What a Day/Tri-State Tollway Question (Chicago, Chester: how much, stations, area)

[dudenamedric]

So, for Father's Day today my family wanted to take me up to Kenosha, WI. We've never been there and almost moved there about a month ago before deciding on NWI, so we thought it'd be a nice day to check the area out and see what we passed on. So we got on 94 near Chesterton, IN, and took it all the way up to where it splits from 90 and becomes the Edens. The traffic was completely ridiculous all down 94 starting at about Garfield Blvd all the way to where we got off with what looked like miles of gridlock ahead and hadn't had any tolls to that point. So two questions come to mind that I hope you can help me with:
1. What the hell was up with traffic today?
and
2. Does anybody know how many toll stations I'll be facing from the Edens up to Kenosha and how much I can expect to spend on the way up?

[pvande55]

1. Summer weekends in Chicago are usually heavy traffic.
2. If you use the Edens spur to Wisconsin you will pay two tolls, $.95 and $1.40, for I Pass, double for cash.
Alternative: use the TriState, I-294. You will avoid the Chicago traffic, but pay another $2.25 in tolls (double for cash).

[dudenamedric]

Ok cool. Thanks!

[rparz]

Yeah, that traffic sounds about normal.