Commute from Lincoln Square to Rosemont area? (Chicago, Des Plaines: apartment, home)

[astanle1]

I'm moving into an apartment in Lincoln Square near Winnemac Park this July. My new job is just east of O'Hare on Higgins Road in Rosemont. What sort of commute am I looking at here? Should I take surface streets (Foster to Lincoln to Peterson to Devon as main roads go) or suck it up at take I-90 out there? Is there any safe way to bike out that direction? My old commute in Milwaukee was 40 minutes to an hour each way depending on traffic and events. If the commute is upwards of 2 or so hours in the evening I'll just find a gym near work and work out through rush hour.

[MannheimMadman]

Even 90W sucks during that hour. From what I've found, 90W doesn't really free up until you're past O'Hare and 294.

You're probably better off taking surface streets.

I live just west of you and I commute to Niles every day. It's a small 6 mile commute, but with getting caught by the Forest Glen Metra and Kedzie EL line, sometimes it takes me 25-30 minutes. However, sometimes it only takes me 15 minutes. I suppose that's the peculiarity of surface streets for you.

[Wildcatbonk]

Good choice in neighborhood, at least. if I were commuting to Rosemont, I'd pick Lincoln Square.

[knitgirl]

This was years ago, but I used to commute from Argyle and Damen to Arlington Hts. I'd take 90 out in the a.m., would take about 35-45". Going home I took surface streets. I don't think going to Rosemont will be hellacious.

[SJaye]

As far as commuting by car, I would simply check GCM every morning to see what the traffic looks like, and make a decision based on that. The best surface street route would probably be Foster to Higgins.

As far as biking, Chicago has a lot of roads that I feel quite comfortable bicycling on, but getting over the Des Plaines River in Rosemont is tough. Most roads have niether a bike lane or a sidewalk (including Higgins). People are seen biking it, but inexperienced bicyclers would be taking quite a risk doing this.

[Chris_H_2]

While I can only comment on the morning rush, I have never had a problem getting to I-90W from Lincoln Square in the morning. I take Foster all the way to 90. And although 90 is congested when you get on at Foster, it clears considerably in about a mile during the morning rush hour.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by astanle1

...Should I take surface streets (Foster to Lincoln to Peterson to Devon as main roads go)...? Is there any safe way to bike out that direction?...

1)Yes.

2)Not really.

[LFigs]

Hi, I am moving to Lincoln Square also and currently work in Arlington Hts at Dundee and 53. What is the best route during traffic? Is there a back roads way to get to the City if the expressway is at a stand still?

[Prost]

Download the app "Waze". Use it every day on your commute. It gives you multiple ways to get to your destination, sorted by the time it will take, and will notify you if a quicker route exists. This is especially helpful when there is an accident or some other unforeseen issue.

[chet everett]

There is no "back road" but there are some combinations of surface streets that are conceivable to use as "alternate routes". The problem is that any alternative is almost 100% guaranteed NOT to save any signficant amount of time FOR THE WHOLE route and even with really EXCELLENT luck (no buses ahead or you, no train crossings, no police or other emergency vehicles causing havoc as drivers freak out before pulling to the right...) you run a high risk of using LOTS more gas / wear & tear on crummy roads with bad pot holes... Every time you accelerate from a stop light, get right back on the brakes and sit through another cycle it is harder on car and worse for mpg than sorta just coasting along at even 10 mph on a parking lot expressway.

Frankly the number of times that there is no some kind of weather / collision / presidential motorcade that drops speeds below even 30 mph for the WHOLE length of your trip you can count on one hand per year. When it is weather related you suffer. If there is a collision and you hear about it on the radio you can get off before you hit the jam and then sail past it on the other side. If there is a motorcade the try to keep those out of true rush hour...