Chicago traffic @ noon today

December 1, 2006 4:36 AM

What will Chicago traffic be like around noon today?

I've seen AskMe respond amazingly quickly to time-sensitive requests before, so I'm hoping it will be equally effective here.

I'm driving from Indiana to Wisconsin today, and I have a choice of two routes, either through Chicago, or one staying well away from Chicago (I-74 to I-39). In my experience, through Chicago is faster when Chicago traffic is good, but avoiding Chicago is faster if Chicago traffic is heavy (in the past, I've chosen the non-Chicago route only when I'd be hitting Chicago around rush hour).

Based on weather.com's hour-by-hour forecast, it looks like it's snowing pretty heavy now, but also looks like it will be letting up before noon, about the time I'd be coming through.

So, Chicago-area MeFites, based on your past experience, what can I expect around noon? Will traffic be moving smoothly by then, or will it still be slow due to the weather?

posted by DevilsAdvocate to travel & transportation (11 comments total)

Well, by me, the snow isn't too bad. The warmth of the city has kept the snow totals down. I'm kind on a backroad which hasn't been plowed much (if at all) yet so I can't quite speak for the conditions of the road. More snow hit the suburbs.

Don't forget, though, that you'll be coming through on a Friday afternoon, which rush hour starts way early. Just keep the radio tuned to traffic. I would recommend the non-Chicago route.
posted by bibbit at 4:48 AM on December 1, 2006

I am on the north side, near 90 - 94. We have about 4 inches of snow and it is still snowing. The highways will be clear, they salt like crazy here, but like bibbit said, it could be backed up just from normal traffic.
posted by lee at 4:59 AM on December 1, 2006

Friday afternoon in Chicago—from my experience heading up there when it was just raining a few weeks ago, I'd say steer clear of it. I laughed out loud when the radio station I was listening to gave the transit times to various points in the city, which were all in the hour-plus range. Then I hunkered down for another hour and a half of 20-mph crawling towards Lake Shore Drive.
posted by limeonaire at 5:48 AM on December 1, 2006

i think it'll be fine. people around here have gone into major freakout mode--my kid's school has already been cancelled, and we have only 3 or so inches right now. i think a lot of people will be staying home. noon should be ok.

keep in mind, though, i live here--and am used to the traffic. if you don't like regular rush hour traffic, then what will happen here will be just slightly worse. but i bet the roads will be clearer and easier to drive then i-74 and 39.
posted by lester's sock puppet at 5:53 AM on December 1, 2006

IAMAC but this might be helpful, with it's cooly titled "Jam Factor"
posted by MarvinJ at 6:01 AM on December 1, 2006

I live north of the city and I see the main northbound route from Indiana to Wisconsin (Tri-State Tollway 294) backed up beginning around Route 22 in the afternoons on the clearest days. I wouldn't want to be in the parking lot that will certainly form there today and remain there all day and well into the evening. Up this way there's already half a foot of snow on the ground and it's steadily falling still. I'd avoid the Tri State for sure. Good luck and safe travels.
posted by Kangaroo at 6:12 AM on December 1, 2006

On average, the trip through Chicago might be faster, even in these conditions, but if there is a slowdown or a jam it may be horrible. I think that it's supposed to still be snowing at noon. I would driving through Chicago at all costs. I've had my 6 mile auto commute (mostly along the Kennedy) turn into three hours enough times that I'm avoiding driving at all costs today.
posted by jcwagner at 6:12 AM on December 1, 2006

Thanks everyone--I've driven through Chicago on Friday afternoons before, so I have some experience with what that's like. In normal weather, it's not too bad--occasional slow spots, but nothing horrible--as long as I get through by 2 or so. Given the comments here about road maintenance, I think I'll risk the Chicago route. I'm not in any hurry, so if I've chosen badly, no harm done.

Cool site, MarvinJ, but I won't have internet access on the road.

AskMe rocks.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 6:13 AM on December 1, 2006

I'm not in the area right now, but in my experience, on any weekday anytime of year, you don't want to go through Chicago via the Skyway/Dan Ryan/Kennedy (I94/90) at noontime because it is loaded to the gills with fume-spewing trucks and gets very slow from downtown to north side.

The Tri-State (I294) is a better bet that time of day.

(I still can't get used to calling Chicago-area highways by number; we always used names when I was a kid.)
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:13 AM on December 1, 2006

One other point: you're aware, I hope, that there is intensive construction on the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94 between I-55 and I-57), and about half the lanes are closed. If you can avoid using that one (via I-294, perhaps?) then you'll be much happier.
posted by Johnny Assay at 7:38 AM on December 1, 2006

Kudos to everyone who recommended going through Chicago! lester's sock puppet must have been right about people staying home. I got to 80/94 in Northwest Indiana a few minutes before 11, and in less than 1.5 hours was stopping for lunch in Hoffman Estates--better time than I often make when the weather is good! Ran into no traffic at all, save for a few slow spots which took no more than five minutes each to get through.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 2:14 PM on December 1, 2006