My employer has paid for me to travel from Highland, Indiana to Grafton, Wisconsin for business purposes. Yay expense account.
Last time I took the Tri-State Tollway. Just fucking shoot me in the head already, OK? I mean, I can do it, obviously I DID do it just a couple days ago, but I found it really unpleasant.
So… any ideas on a better route?
I do not want to go through Chicago - due to time of day I have to travel it would be even slower than the tollway.
Is there an alternative to I-94 through the city proper or I-294 (the Tollway) that will still get me around the city in a reasonable time frame? Like, 2 hours or so? I don’t mind rejoining the freeway north of Chicago.
You’re pretty much screwed, there really isn’t a better way. Maybe I-80 to I-355N. There really isn’t any way you can’t make the drive at night? That’s really the best way.
Nope - no alternative unless you rent a boat, or go the ferry route.
Through the city, 294, or 355 can/will all jam up. But, if you leave after 7 p.m. or before 5 a.m., you shouldn’t have too much problem.
IME, northbound on I-355, from I-80 to I-55, is usually close to empty during evening rush (which sounds like when Broomstick may be going). You get more traffic once you get to I-55, and further north, but it probably still flows better than I-294 on an average day.
I suppose if I left right now, but that would mean either showing up to work after being awake 30+ hours or sleeping in my car. My employer will pay for a hotel room Thursday night, but not before, because some corporate schmuck in Grand Rapids, MI who has obviously never been within 200 miles of Chicago keeps insisting that the software says it’s only 2.5 hours. The Computer Says So.
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.
Fortunately, this person is not connected to the expense department, because they didn’t even blink when I told them them the last time the drive north took 4 hours. The drive back took 3. I am told that is not unusual and the record so far has been 8 hours one way. I got paid for mileage and time for that.
The other thing I’m dreading is Holiday Traffic.
I think I’m going to allow 5-6 hours for the drive. I might need it. If I don’t need it, well, I’ll arrive in time for a leisurely lunch and be able to chill out for a bit before I have to start work a 1:30 pm.
Well, since I’m going past the entire city whether I leave morning or evening half of that will be “reverse commute”.
My best best would seem to be a REALLY early start, hope a lot of folks are off work, and just do the Tollway again. It will be a long day, but that’s what I did last time (got off work and back to the hotel around 11 pm) and it worked out alright.
I drive that route periodically, and have for decades. I’ve never found a better solution than going the Indiana Turnpike to the Chicago Skyway, up the Dan Ryan to the Kennedy, then to the Edens, then Edens spur, and 94 to MKE and Grafton beyond. Timing is everything; I’ve made it thru that stretch of Chicagoland at average speeds of 65 MPH at times, and 25 MPH at other times.
Grafton is lovely this time of year, drove thru there just the other day! Stop at Colectivo downtown for some excellent espresso! And if you’re in that area often in the future, I’ll meet you there for espresso sometime.
I actually have flown in that airspace. It is no less crowded than the freeways on the ground. Honestly, I think I’d prefer to drive than deal with O’Hare ATC and the commercial traffic. The only viable small-plane routes is either up along the lakefront - plagued by restrictions, tall buildings, and too damn many people trying to see the sights - or going way around to the west to avoid hairy bullshit like that 50 foot box over Schaumburg which is like threading a needle at 100mph while getting rocked around every time a big passenger jet goes by overhead. Which is about every 30-60 seconds. And needing to talk to Midway and O’Hare ATC which, frankly, do not want to be bothered with the likes of me, they’re busy enough, and have the authority to basically tell me to bugger off and take a less direct route.
Also - no longer have access to airplanes or the money required for them. Trust me, I had thought of it. I mean, I have flown over Chicago.
My fucking problem is bullshit like people not allowing me to lane shift so I can pay my cash tolls instead of blasting through the electronic gates with no I-pass. I swear, some people seem to make a game of it. My problem are people blasting along while on their phone/texting/otherwise doing dumb shit. My problem are road bullies who play chicken with other drivers.
In sum, far too many Tollway drivers are rude, stupid, and foolish and is it really that puzzling that I don’t enjoy 2-3 hours of such bullshit? As noted, I am able to deal with it, that does not mean I enjoy any of it.
That’s what I thought. Well, I’ll just plan to leave very early so at least I don’t have time-stress to deal with.
Yes, yes, the area IS lovely. I’m staying at the Port Washington Holiday Inn, which has been quite comfortable. My last day there last time I checked out the Covered Bridge Park. Also (of course) found the Covered Bridge Airfield - ooo, grass runways! ~drool~
I’ll see about checking out Colectivo and downtown Grafton, but my main purpose for being there is opening up the new store over on Port Washington just south of Washington (I prefer not to name my employer explicitly on line, but it’s the one that officially opened last Thursday), you can see it from 43.
Working the 4th (someone has to at a 24/7 store) but I’m OK with that - it’s a guaranteed 40 hours this week, with the holiday work at time-and-a-half. Need the money. We’ll do our celebrating when I get back to Indiana.
While in Port Washington, visit the Chocolate Chisel, a very high end premium hand crafted chocolate factory and shop, owned and run by two friends of mine. It’s about a block west of your hote, on the same side of the streetl. If the owners are there when you visit, just tell 'em you’re internet friends with the prison doc. You probably won’t get any free merchandise, but you never know your luck.
I know what store you mean, my wife just tried it out the other day.
I have been to the Chocolate Chisel an embarrassing number of times already. Fantastic chocolate and even more fantastic artwork. Mmmmmmmmm…
Hope your wife liked our store. I’d say look for the woman with the waist-length braid and glasses in the health, beauty, and cosmetics department, but there are three of us like that. Well… I’m the one in the red shirt (I think I’m the only redshirt there… and that’s assuming they don’t re-assign me). Your local staff are the navy blue and khaki uniforms.
I’ll be helping to open another store south of Milwaukee in August, assuming no change in plans.
