Potential Commute - Woodridge to Waukeegan (Waukegan, Des Plaines: home, transfer, live in)

[Brodiddly]

I am considering a job in Waukeegan and currently live in Woodridge (near Hobson and 53). Relocation is not an option in the near future, unfortunately.

I am not familiar with what the commute would look like on a daily basis. Currently, its tough to assess due to the impacts of Covid on drive times. My question is: post covid, what kind of commite can I expect in the mornings / evenings? Is this doable or would I regret it?

[deeman7]

Well under ideal conditions its like an hour drive. I wouldn't be surprised if under 'usual' rush hour traffic situations it would be close to 2 hours each way.

[wjj]

Originally Posted by deeman7

Well under ideal conditions its like an hour drive. I wouldn't be surprised if under 'usual' rush hour traffic situations it would be close to 2 hours each way.

Yes, during normal times that commute is very long and frustrating and could reach two hours each way. I know someone who commuted from his home near Elmhurst to the southern end of Waukegan (the corporate strip north of 137 on 43 - the area just north of Abbott Park). He said it was a nightmare every day unless he left very early and stayed very late. He finally found another job. Coming all the way from Woodridge would be even worse. I had a number of clients in that area from Abbott Park north to almost Belvedere (and my wife used to work there), but the commute from Buffalo Grove was quite easy. My colleagues who would meet me there who lived in the west burbs did not have kind words for their drive over. But who knows what the situation will be post-Covid. Every one of my working age relatives has been working from home and have been told it will stay that way through 2021 and perhaps permanently. So traffic may not be as bad going forward. But under normal circumstances, Woodridge to Waukegan is a very frustrating commute. And even worse if the job is not along that 137/43 strip which is just off I94. Going east/west on surface streets in Waukegan during rush hour is not a happy experience.

[Curly Q. Bobalink]

Originally Posted by deeman7

Well under ideal conditions its like an hour drive. I wouldn't be surprised if under 'usual' rush hour traffic situations it would be close to 2 hours each way.

Yep. OP, can you start work at 4 AM and work 'til noon? Otherwise, not sure why you'd want to do this to yourself - as deeman said, it's close to an hour drive during mid-day summertime. I can't imagine doing it during a snowy rush-hour. Although, I had a boss who would drive from Des Plaines to Racine three days a week, but that's expressway almost the whole way. Not sure if there's a train that runs from downtown to Waukegan, doing that might save some aggravation, but probably would add more time to the trip.

Bottom line, move or find something local.

[Hiruko]

Originally Posted by Brodiddly

I am considering a job in Waukeegan and currently live in Woodridge (near Hobson and 53). Relocation is not an option in the near future, unfortunately.

I am not familiar with what the commute would look like on a daily basis. Currently, its tough to assess due to the impacts of Covid on drive times. My question is: post covid, what kind of commite can I expect in the mornings / evenings? Is this doable or would I regret it?

That's a disastrous commute for a 9-5 job.

[CCrest182]

It's definitely a long commute, and 294 can get very frustrating during rush hour or even during off times. That said I know people who have done similar routes from the SW suburbs basically all the way up to the Wisconsin state line, and not all of them have gone crazy. But if you aren't ready to occasionally sit in your car for potentially a 2 hour commute one way, then I'd consider a different option. This route is definitely doable with little traffic but with traffic it can be hellish.

[BOBNCHI]

Brutal, especially if the are accidents on the tollway anywhere near or north of Lake-Cook Rd. There have been some doozies! I won't even mention snow issues.

[pvande55]

Originally Posted by Curly Q. Bobalink

Yep. OP, can you start work at 4 AM and work 'til noon? Otherwise, not sure why you'd want to do this to yourself - as deeman said, it's close to an hour drive during mid-day summertime. I can't imagine doing it during a snowy rush-hour. Although, I had a boss who would drive from Des Plaines to Racine three days a week, but that's expressway almost the whole way. Not sure if there's a train that runs from downtown to Waukegan, doing that might save some aggravation, but probably would add more time to the trip.

Bottom line, move or find something local.

There is, but few would consider it. Perhaps ride the UP-W line downtown then transfer. A long ride, to be sure. But at least it's economical, at about $240 a month, much less than driving. Maybe less than gas + tolls alone.

[Curly Q. Bobalink]

Originally Posted by pvande55

There is, but few would consider it. Perhaps ride the UP-W line downtown then transfer. A long ride, to be sure. But at least it's economical, at about $240 a month, much less than driving. Maybe less than gas + tolls alone.

Looks like you've found the correct answer. Doable and affordable. But how long can the OP do nothing but eat, sleep, work, bathe, and commute during the week? Seems like it would get old in a hurry. Whatever they are making in Waukegan would probably be less than working close to home at lower pay, banking the commuting costs, and working a part-time gig with the extra hours. Or, moving close to the new job, but they said that's not possible. OP, would the new job allow you to work four, ten hour days? That would make it much more palatable for most.

[Brodiddly]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Its a great opportunity, but everyone's replies are echoing what I was thinking...don't know if I could deal with this commute day to day. The extra pay would more than cover commuting costs, but still not worth it. Additionally, I don't think hours are particularly flexible.