Chicago Traffic Reports
Posted by Theresa Carter
Just what are those traffic reporters in Chicago talking about? Chicago has its own traffic language. Learn how to translate with these definitions.
Listening to a traffic report in Chicago is like hearing a MCSE professional talk about firewalls and proxy servers. You somehow know that what's being said is important and you should know what it is, but he or she might as well be speaking in binary code. After being in Chicago awhile you learn the terms you need to know, but if you're visiting or just moved to Chicago it seems like you'll never get it! Traffic reports use names, but the maps and signs use numbers. Briefly, here are what those names are referring to, so next time you hear "20 minutes outbound from the split to O'Hare" you'll know that's a GOOD thing! Outbound: Leaving downtown Inbound: Heading downtown The Kennedy: I-90 and I-94 together north of the Loop (approx.I-290). I-90 continues to be the Kennedy after the Split until O'Hare The Split/The Junction: When I-90 and I-94 break off from each other north of the Loop. I-90 heads to O'Hare and I-94 heads northeast. Edens Expressway: I-94 north of the Split Lake Cook Road Lake Cook Road: East-west street that marks the borders of Lake and Cook Counties on the north side Northwest Tollway: I-90 north of O'Hare to Wisconsin Dan Ryan Expressway: I-90 and I-94 together south of the Loop Skyway: Connects Dan Ryan to Indiana Toll Road 95th Street: Southern end of Dan Ryan Expressway, marks beginning of Bishop Ford Bishop Ford Freeway: I-94 from 95th (Dan Ryan) to I-80/Indiana Eisenhower: I-290, which extends from downtown to the western suburbs North-South: I-355 from Itasca to I-55 Stevenson Expressway: I-55 from Lake Shore Drive to the Tri-State Tri-State Tollway: I-294 connects with I-94 on the north and the south end of the city, forming a semi-circle and connecting with every major interstate Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway: I-88 west from Tri-State The Loop: area in the heart of downtown that's encircled by the "L" tracks. Lake Street on the North, Wabash on the East, Van Buren on the South and Wells Street on the West. Post Office: Sometimes used instead of The Loop. Now vacant building that spans the Eisenhower as it turns into Congress Parkway. Circle/Spaghetti Bowl: Where the Dan Ryan, the Kennedy and the Eisenhower meet Hillside Strangler: Named after a nearby suburb. Where the East-West Tollway, the Tri-State and the Eisenhower meet Mannheim: Just east of the Hillside Strangler and near the western end of the Eisenhower Theresa Carter is the founder and publisher of TheLocalTourist.com, a free online guide to downtown Chicago. Restaurants, bars, shopping, spas, salons, events, etc. - find it all at http://www.thelocaltourist.com. Free weekly events newsletter.
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