Chicago commute?

I currently live in the downtown Loop and commute to the southern suburbs for work. The reverse commute isn't bad at all - 30 minutes to the Homewood area, 30 minutes back, even during rush hour. I'm considering taking a job in Naperville / Aurora, in the western suburbs. I've driven on I-290 before, though, and in general it seems much busier than I-95 / I-57 during rush hour, even the "reverse" commute, going away from the city in the morning and coming back into the city in the evening. Does anyone know if this is a much worse commute than the south suburbs? Should I plan for much longer times in the car?

Chicago commute?computer

A few years ago, I used to commute on 290 from the west suburbs to my university downtown. It is bad both ways almost all of the time. I think it partly has to do with the stretch of 290 where the entrance ramp to the highway (and the merging cars) is in the left lane...and because people in rush hour sometimes drive with a ten-car-length empty space in front of them. You should definitely plan for much longer times in the car if you are taking 290. From the loop to Naperville/Aurora...I would give at least an hour and a half in the morning, if not longer. My husband went to college in Aurora, and the drive from Chicago to Aurora is 1 hour during a non-rush hour time. So expect longer during rush hour. It's better to be early than late on your first day, so give yourself enough time.