Blue Route Question!!!! HELP! (Conshohocken, Plymouth: home, construction, to live in)

[kimbey]

I have a really good job opportunity in Marcus Hook. I live in Skippack and was thinking of getting on the Blue Route in Plymouth Meeting. I drive an hour for work now so I am used to a fairly long commute. I hear nightmare stories about the Blue Route. Is there anyway I should consider this job or is it just crazy traffic that I will kick myself everytime I get in the car. Any alterantive routes would also be appreciated.

Thanks!

[Avalon08]

Oh dear....I can't imagine driving from Skippack to Marcus Hook every day at rush hour. I used to live in Skippack and my commute to Malvern was at least 45 mins. every day, and that's nowhere near as far as Marcus Hook.

So realistically, Mapquest says it's 42 mi. and 54 mins. That's certainly not taking into account rush-hour traffic. It'll probably take you 10-15 mins. just to get to the NE Extension (476 S), then another 20-30 mins. to get through the tolls to the Blue Route, then Lord knows how long to drive down the entire length of the Blue Route. I'm thinking 90 mins. total one-way for the whole trip.

However, I can't think of any alternatives that wouldn't be a back-road hassle. But if the job's worth it financially, perhaps you should consider it....along with maybe carpooling, or working from home a few days a week, or requesting flexible work hours so you're avoiding rush hour, etc.

[PeeAye Native]

> Oh dear....I can't imagine driving from Skippack to Marcus Hook every day at rush hour.
It's a job, and the economy is tough. But I do agree with the above.

At rush hour, even when there's no construction it gets jammed up. An accident or even someone pulled over by the police, which doesn't happen enough IMO, slows traffic.

And to add to that, the Blue Route from Conshohocken/I-76 to Plymouth Meeting has has 'lane restricting construction' going on for seven or eight of the last ten years. What's going on now, rebuilding the bridge decks and rebuilding the roadway started two or three years ago. Before that it was the EZ Pass express lanes, and before that it was 10 months (i.e.,a full year) of roadway resurfacing, and before it was, .... well, you get the picture. It seems to me that section is a never ending construction zone. Just watch, when this work is done, something else will start.

[JohnZ963]

I know that going southbound in the morning, 476 seems to really jam up between the Midcounty tolls and the exit for the Schuylkill Expressway, and approaching the Media/Swarthmore exit.