Fairfield, CT to Montville, NJ Commute: Mission Impossible? (Norwalk, Milford: hotel, construction)

umagumm · 03-10-2013, 03:12 PM

Is a commute from the Greenfield Hill area of Fairfield, Ct to Montville, NJ (near Parsippanny) feasible for one year without going crazy? It's about 75 miles. This would be a commute down the Merritt and then across 287 and down to Montville. Is it possible to do this in 90-120 minutes each way? I could live with that for a year, but commutes longer than this would kill me. I could stay in a hotel once or twice a week to reduce the amount of time in the car.

Looking for advise from people that have done legs of this commute- worst parts of the commute, best/worst times of morning/evening to drive etc. The job will most be a 9 to 5 position.

willow wind · 03-10-2013, 04:21 PM

You'll go crazy in about two days. It's not so much the distance, it's the traffic. The Tappan Zee is undergoing deck replacement./ on going construction, you'd be hitting the Merritt and the bridge at the height of rush hour either way. Any fender bender on the roads, any wet, slippery morning and you'll be sitting there forever.

That said, if it's for a year, there is an end in sight. And if you could indeed hotel it for a couple of nights a week, well, then, maybe. Only you know what your tolerance for this could be. It's just a horrible commute.

kidyankee764 · 03-10-2013, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willow wind

It's just a horrible commute.

This.

umagumm · 03-10-2013, 05:13 PM

OK, well what if I said there was flexibility to the position. Say I could work from 8 AM to 4 PM or even 7 AM to 3 PM. Just wondering if there was any way to make this work.

kidyankee764 · 03-10-2013, 05:29 PM

7-3 would be a little easier, but CT has a pretty early rush hour, so you're still looking at lots of traffic coming home.

umagumm · 03-10-2013, 05:44 PM

There are traffic jams on the Merritt between 5AM and 6AM?

kidyankee764 · 03-10-2013, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by umagumm

There are traffic jams on the Merritt between 5AM and 6AM?

No, it should be clear in the morning. In the evening though, it begins to back up most days around 330ish.

bobtn · 03-10-2013, 06:47 PM

OP, I'd look for an economy motel M-F, that offers weekly rates. Tell them it is for a year, and most likely they will discount what they charge you vs other guests.

umagumm · 03-10-2013, 07:10 PM

bobtn,
That's a great idea, thanks.

Anyone have any specifics on this route, e.g. I can make it from Norwalk to Tarrytown in an hour if I leave before 7 AM or something like this?

Stylo · 03-10-2013, 07:36 PM

I have a former colleague that commutes from Milford to Saddle Brook. He leaves very early (6AM?) and doesn't hit much traffic going in. I honestly am not sure what he does for the evening commute. It's a pretty bad idea IMO.

On most days, if you leave by 630AM, you should be good. It's the afternoon that really sucks.