NE Illinois & NW Indiana Residents

[theknight571]

I've been though the 80/90/94 area several times in the past year or so and it's always packed with traffic and construction.

Is there a way around it?

Looking at a map that I have available to me at the moment... it looks like cutting down to 30 by Valpo and taking that across to either 394 or all the way to 57 might be an alternative.

I'm looking for some local input though, since you would be dealing with it on a regular basis.

 

[K1052]

Going from where to where?

 

[Juice Box]

Originally posted by: K1052
Going from where to where?

indeed, I live right at the intersection of 57-80-294, so i can help out

 

[theknight571]

Originally posted by: K1052
Going from where to where?

LOL...oops.

I edited my OP to much and took that part out. 🙂

The tennative plan is to go from Detroit, to Chicago (downtown), then continue on up though Wisconsin into the MI's U.P. and on to Manistique, MI.

I might have a meeting in Chicago, the day before scheduled vacation. So I was thinking I could combine the two, and just drive to Manistique from Chicago.

The other option is to fly in and fly out of Chicago same day. But my wife's never been to Chicago and was interested in checking it out...albeit for only a short time.

 

[ScottMac]

The 30/394 route can be much better, depending on the time.

Since most of the locals know about it, and the fact that it's only two lanes, and there's lots of lights .... it can be as bad, but at least if it really sucks, you can pull off at a restaraunt or shop and take a break.

I go to Michigan periodically, and the best route, even if it's mostly under construction, is the Skyway (exit 16a from I94). The problem with that route now is that the 90/94 from ~the Skyway ramp to downtown ("The Dan Ryan Expressway") is now down to ~two lanes each way (used to be ~eight lanes). Even with that, except for rush hour, the Skyway is usually faster.

The problem is between I65 and I80. It's pretty much the primary connector route East/West.

Indiana has been "fixing" that stretch for decades now; the more they fix it, the worse it gets. Someday Indiana will buy and operate more than one snowplow (which they keep in Indianapolis most of the time). If you haven't driven that stretch in the winter yet, you're in for a real treat.

Good Luck

Scott

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: theknight571

Originally posted by: K1052
Going from where to where?

LOL...oops.

I edited my OP to much and took that part out. 🙂

The tennative plan is to go from Detroit, to Chicago (downtown), then continue on up though Wisconsin into the MI's U.P. and on to Manistique, MI.

I might have a meeting in Chicago, the day before scheduled vacation. So I was thinking I could combine the two, and just drive to Manistique from Chicago.

The other option is to fly in and fly out of Chicago same day. But my wife's never been to Chicago and was interested in checking it out...albeit for only a short time.

Well if you want to see any of the city that means coming in on the Skyway or I94 from that direction and going back out on the Kennedy/Edens up to the Tri-State (294).

 

[keeleysam]

Yes, bypass 80 by going a bit further to a local route. It's only a few miles.

 

[Platypus]

I would recommend the Skyway (90) but that last toll before IL is brutal, down to a few lanes. Your best bet is going on a local route as others have said.