[ctwhitechin]

Haven't done the trip at this timeframe in a long time, but have to be on Long island by 11AM one day next week. I live in Glasatonbury, figuring leaving about 8AM, my thinking I won't get to bridgeport area till 9am or so, most of the morning rush hour will be over? Ferry is too expensive with 2 extra passengers (80 or so 1 way)

So, thoughts from those that travel this regularly down that way? Or should we bite the bullet and just leave @4AM?

[Kristin85]

I'm not sure about the commute from Glastonbury to Bridgeport, but at 9 AM there will still be some straggling rush hour from Fairfield down to Norwalk. By 9:30-10 it should clear up on the Merritt and there will always be backup around Norwalk on 95. There's also always backup into NY at all times of day because the merge before the bridge is horrendous, but that could take just 15-30 minutes to get through (and significantly more time if there's road construction, which you should check on Google Traffic since road construction in SW CT has been rampant lately.) Just to be safe, leave at 7:00 at the latest (assuming no lanes are closed.) If you get in early, get some brunch.

[Tetto]

Originally Posted by Kristin85

I'm not sure about the commute from Glastonbury to Bridgeport

It would suck

[ctwhitechin]

yeah but leaving @7 gets me down around Fairfield @8ish, that sounds like a nightmare going from Fairfield down the Merrit through the Bronx at that hour. My thought was leave @8, once I get down around Fairfield it will be 9ish, most people are at work, get to bridge by 9:45 or so I hope. bet if I left at 7 or 8 I will still make it at the same time or close.

Other option, leave @4 and beat the traffic all together.

This is a 1 day deal, no rush to come home will leave to come home way after evening rush hour. Trust me I lived in NY long enough to know how traffic is, just never tried going there before during rush hour from here.

[SVTJayC]

Heading south, Death. North, not so bad.

[ctwhitechin]

yeah maybe some extra for the ferry not such a bad idea the more I think about it.....

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by ctwhitechin

Haven't done the trip at this timeframe in a long time, but have to be on Long island by 11AM one day next week. I live in Glasatonbury, figuring leaving about 8AM, my thinking I won't get to bridgeport area till 9am or so, most of the morning rush hour will be over? Ferry is too expensive with 2 extra passengers (80 or so 1 way)

So, thoughts from those that travel this regularly down that way? Or should we bite the bullet and just leave @4AM?

The rush hour is not done at 9, more like 10-10:30. It can take that long for it to die down. It gets real bad around Norwalk and Stamford and then dies down considerably as you approach the border.

If you have to do this, I strongly recommend getting a really good navigation unit that has live traffic. Once you get to the 95/287 exit, you have a few different options to get to LI. Whereas one day 95>Whitestone could be perfect, it could be terrible on another day and the Hutch>Throg's Neck might be superior. In CT, unfortunately you only have a choice between 15 and 95, and when one's bad, the other is usually - but the nav traffic can save you when there's an accident or another anomoly that makes one better than the other.

Either way, from Glastonbury DO NOT take 91 to 95, take 91 to 15 and take the Milford Parkway to 95.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by ctwhitechin

yeah maybe some extra for the ferry not such a bad idea the more I think about it.....

When you add up sitting in traffic, gas, tolls, frustration - it definitely becomes worth it.

[ctwhitechin]

ferry it is. I mapped out all options, we go to Long Island quite often on weekends, and sometimes it's a mess then. Any way I cut it, from 91 to 95, or 91 to 15 all the way down, or 91 to 691 to 84 then down through brewster NY, or 91 to 15 to Merrit connector in Milford to 95 looks disgusting once I get South of Bridgeport, even at 9:30AM, I don't know what the Bronx would be like but I don't want to see it.

Agreed a little extra $$ goes a long way to preserving what hair I have left

So next question, Glastonbury to Bridgeport, for 9am ferry I'm guessing 91 to 15 to Rt 8 is the best bet?

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by ctwhitechin

So next question, Glastonbury to Bridgeport, for 9am ferry I'm guessing 91 to 15 to Rt 8 is the best bet?

Yep. Or 91-15-Milford Connector-95. Sometimes Route 8/25 can get a little backed up, but you should be fine. Both ways are pretty much the same distance. I'd bet you rarely hit traffic on that route.