[jzd]

Am I nuts?

It is about 60 miles one way and takes about 1hr15min one way. I will be taking the throgs neck bridge into bronx and then going up the Hutchinson river pkwy

When hutchinson splits into 684 and 15, should I go
1) 684 and then 84
or
2) 15 then 7 north

Well I am looking at a nice job opening in the danbury area but I don't want to move from where I live...nice neighborhood, good school system and my wife's family lives close by....

I figure I get out of bronx it should be a smooth ride since I am going against traffic?

[Rich Lee]

I-684 to I-84! Since you will be doing a reverse commute (assuming you're working days), you should have no problem on I-684 which, by the way, is 33 miles from White Plains to Brewster.

[7 Wishes]

The one thing Rich Lee is forgetting about is the Hutchinson River Parkway, which you need to be on to get to I-684 from you (the alternates, like I-95 to I-287 or one of the other parkways to I-287 are only a little better). I live in Mt. Vernon and am not only considering a possible job in Danbury and thinking about this as well, but my son's principal commutes down to here from Danbury and only considers it doable because his hours (especially the morning, which is early) are not exactly the heaviest commuting hours.

Unfortunately, most mornings (from about 7:30am to 9:30am, yes 9:30, I don't know why) the road is a parking lot BOTH WAYS from somewhere in the Bronx to just before I-684 Earlier this year I had a 2-week consulting assignment in Rye Brook right off the Hutch (which I also live near), it was only about 12 miles but it took me 40-50 minutes each way! Same thing from about 4:15ish to maybe 6:45 or 7pm.

The 35 miles from where I-684 begins to Danbury are free and clear and would take just 1/2 hour or even a bit less (in fact the road is so straight it's known locally as a "speedway" or "autobahn".....it's the only area road with a 65mph limit, but I have had cars pass me like I was standing still and my speedometer reads 75-80 and I slow down a bit more......lots of local stories about cars being pulled on 684 for going 100mph+), but unfortunately, the stretch between Queens and I-684 is not too good.



Personally, if I were in your shoes, I'd consider moving; the housing is cheaper in Danbury (including taxes) than Queens, schools debateable since I don't know where in Queens you live, but I'm sure towns near Danbury have good schools, and you're not so far that you can't easily visit family even every weekend if you wanted. Take if from someone who on a temporary 2 month gig lived in the Hartford area (twice as far) and came back every weekend.