Commute time from Old Town to Wheaton and back

[IlliniGuy76]

So I've been taking this commute for the better part of a week. Add in a few snowfalls, but my commute hasn't been shorter than 1 1/2 hours on the way home (including tonight which there was no weather related/traffic), leaving Wheaton at 4:45PM. Is that normal?

On the way in I get on 290W around 7AM, and it usually takes me about 45 minutes.

[chirack]

Originally Posted by IlliniGuy76

So I've been taking this commute for the better part of a week. Add in a few snowfalls, but my commute hasn't been shorter than 1 1/2 hours on the way home (including tonight which there was no weather related/traffic), leaving Wheaton at 4:45PM. Is that normal?

On the way in I get on 290W around 7AM, and it usually takes me about 45 minutes.

Snow will add to your commute but it sounds normal. At 7AM rush hour is just in the opening phases plus the fact that you are going out of the city.

At 4:45 evening rush is well started plus the fact that you are headed into the city makes it worse.

[JacksonPanther]

What do you think, guys? Should he attempt using I55 instead of 290, in the afternoon? 355 to 55 to LSD to North Ave.

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[IlliniGuy76]

Thanks for all your input - yesterday evening the commute time was 2 hours 45 minutes. Crazy!

Much appreciated all.

Jackson: Good advice - I wonder how long that commute would be.

[chet everett]

The evening commute tends to see higher number of vehicles in a more compressed time period. Might be worth experimenting with some alternate routes -- if you don't have GPS you might want to plan out routes with google maps.

If the surface roads like Roosevelt or St. Charles are not under construction or unsalted they can be viable option to avoid the Hillside bottleneck -- getting back on the Ike may make sense around Austin, though with the tie-ups caused by Wacker being torn-up it may be easier to head to one of the east- west boulevards ...

[JacksonPanther]

Originally Posted by IlliniGuy76

Thanks for all your input - yesterday evening the commute time was 2 hours 45 minutes.

Did you really say 2 hours 45 minutes? Holy heck.

Where was all that time spent? Which part of the commute are up all the time? We can give you alternatives of you tell us where the bad parts are.

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[ToriaT]

Why not try taking North Avenue? Sometimes you can make better time on regular streets than going on xpress or toll roads.

[tonythetuna]

Originally Posted by IlliniGuy76

my commute hasn't been shorter than 1 1/2 hours on the way home (including tonight which there was no weather related/traffic), leaving Wheaton at 4:45PM. Is that normal?

Yes.