Jobs in libertyville and lake forest is Elk Grove village doable (Arlington Heights: new house, neighborhoods)

[jobseeker2013]

We found a nice home in EKG right off Biesterfield and Meacham. I work 294 and 60 my wife works 60 and Milwaukee. Are we asking for problems? We have been looking at Buffalo Grove with no luck. But we just found a great house in a great area. But the commute, argh. What do you guys think? I can start early but my wife can't. So I can start at 7 and she at 8 and we work standard 8 hour days.

[MSchemist80]

That would be a rather long commute for both of you. I'd look at places in central Lake County. It wouldn't say it is completely not doable I-53 and Rt-83 but there are certainly better options.

[chet everett]

The difficulty with that the OP would face is the lack of good options to get onto 294 which is a a whole heckuva lot better way to get to most offices in Lake Forest or Linertyville than the combination of surface streets /expressways that one would take from Elk Grove Village. Realistically the added time would be hours per week spent on very crowded streets with lots of stoplights and retail shopping areas that really slows one down day-to-day. Funny thing is that during bad weather or very early morning when traffic light you might not see such a dramatic difference but during rush hour this would be a brutal commute...

[jobseeker2013]

I used to live a mile away from the possible new house and did the commute to Vernon Hills. It took 45 minutes. I used to take 53 straight to old 53 (hicks) left on 83 right onto 60. But 60 approaching Milwaukee is crowded. I need an alternative route.

[MSchemist80]

Perhaps 22 Half-day to 21.

[wjj]

This would be a very tough commute. The best route I think would be 53 to Lake Cook, east to Buffalo Grove Road, and north from there to Route 60. BG Road changes its name a couple times along the way, but it will take you right up to 60 and usually has less traffic than other roads in the area. You mention the one job is in Libertyville, which would be north of 60 on Milwaukee. You can get there quickly by simply going straight across 60 and along the perimeter road of Hawthorn Shopping Center and connecting with Milwaukee where the perimeter road dead ends, thereby bypassing the traffic jam at 60 and Milwaukee that seems to be there 24/7. The wild card in the morning is avoiding school buses going to Twin Groves Jr. High (BG Road and 22), Stevenson HS, the back entrance of which is just east of BG Road, or Vernon Hills HS which is right along the route. But that will be a problem up that way regardless of what route you take.

I think this commute will be especially challenging in the winter as some of the bridges on 53 are notorious for icing over and spinouts and jack knifed trucks are a common occurrence. Race days at Arlington Park can dump a lot of traffic onto 53 in the late afternoon as well.

Good luck!

[cubssoxfan]

There should be affordable options in Arlington Heights and Cook Co. portion of Buffalo Grove. There are some nicer neighborhoods in Wheeling that will be every bit as affordable as EGV but much closer to work.