Best time to drive between rush hours?

My experience with Chicago (14 yrs driving in and about Chicagoland) is the traffic really depends on the day of the week. On average, Mondays and Tuesdays have the shortest rushes, Thursday the worst, closely followed by Friday.

Generally the heavier rush in the morning begins about 630 until about 9. The afternoon rush, 3 pm is about the latest until 630 or so, though on Thurs and Fri you're looking at 230 to about 7.

294 is heavier going north in the morning, south in the evening.

If the Blackhawks or Bulls are home, the Ike or Eisenhower (290) will be messed up. White Sox, the Dan Ryan (90/94 on the south side) can see some delays. Bears, the Stevenson (55). Don't see much effect with the Cubs.

I listen to 780 WBBM for traffic (on the 8s) to get reports. An ideal travel time is 20 minutes. For example, ohare to the Circle 20 minutes, Manheim to the Post Office, 20 minutes, 95th to Circle 15 minutes. When you hear traffic times like that, you can expect traffic to be flowing. The Circle is also called downtown, it is where 290 and 90/94 meet

Expressway names/Hwy #:
Kennedy - 90/94 from downtown to the 90/94 split (the Junction), then it is just 90 to Ohare.
Edens - 94 from the Edens Spur and US 41 to the Junction
Eisenhower - 290 from 294 to downtown
Dan Ryan - 90/94 from 63rd to downtown. Just 94 ftom 95th to 63rd.
Skyway - 90
Bishop Ford - 94 from 95th to out of Chicago
57 doesn't have a name.
Veterans' Toll - 355
Reagan or East West - 88
Jane Addams - 90 from 294 to Beloit
TriState Tollway - 80 from 94 to 294, 294, 94 from 294 to WI line

 

That, my fine sir, is GOLD.

Before I went through there the last time, I had to Google 'the circle in chicago' to find out just what it was. Just calling it the 'Circle Interchange' would be helpful to those that don't know.

 

I'll never know why they put interstates near big cities, if I have a load from Lincoln, AL to Rocford, IL, there's no reason to go in a big city at all

 

I would also say that around the circle on Friday, pretty much all day is jammed. Everyone going to ohare for weekend flights.

 

North or south makes a big difference.

Mornings take 294 south, evenings take 294 north for smooth travel. Mostly stopped in the opposite direction.

90/94 through the city is hit or miss. Check live traffic on google maps for real time status of accidents, construction etc....

I drive Chicago all day every day. PM me or email if you need info.

Mikeeee

 

LOL..

I would rather drive through Wyoming in a blizzard with high winds than even see the word Chicago on a street sign...LOL

 

IL tollway just announced this summer is going to be the busiest construction season ever!!!

So YAY for that!

Mikeeee

 

Yep..That guy from Wisconsin has it right.....

Ive lived in Chicago all my life........The 'Circle' or downtown is also known as "The Loop".........Hence one of our bigger radio stations ..97.9 The Loop FM98


Ive seen The Edens get Reconcreted in 1994... ive seen the Dan Ryan go from Asphalt to Concrete.. Also the Stephenson Was a Buympy mess until they resurfaced that From Damen ave to the Spaghetti Bowl.

Most of you guys have it made nowadays coming into chicago...........Many main Arteries have been Truck Friendly now.....No More LOW bridges on most main streets


Now You guys can Run Most of Halsted, Ashland,Western,Kedzie,Pulaski,Cicero, Without bumping your head.

same with the east-west corridors.... 95th street, 22nd street (cermak), Roosevelt Rd, Most of Madison, lake street,(Watch the Bridge Supports), North ave, Armitage, Fullerton, Diversey and Irving park Rd.


Chicago has become a Very trucker friendly town these days...And Our Police Dept is actually on "Our Side" of things..(Helpful in many situations)......


now,If you were a Driver in the 1970's-80's. coming here.......You Best know your way around here....(1 way in and ouit of most places)

 

What and where? aside from the new I57 interchange w/294 and I90 out towards Rockford, What's next?

 

I know...Do we really need that interchange on 294 to get on 57 ? Thats a Project that DOESNT need to be done