Anyone who has done much driving around Gurnee lately doesn't need to be told that there is a whole lot of construction going on. Just about every major east-west thoroughfare is undergoing some type of revision, and much of it feels welcome as long overdue. In the meantime, however, there is still the question of how to get from point "A" to point "B" without ending up in a bumper-to-bumper logjam. I've taken several trips in and out of Lake County recently to Wisconsin in the north and Chicago in the south, and have found that there definitely exist side routes and detours one can take to streamline their travels throughout northeastern Illinois.

Since the eastbound ramp to Grand Avenue off I-94 from the north is under construction, the most direct route to KeyLime Cove and Great America is inaccessible. Thankfully, there does exist a simple detour that can land you at either destination without much hassle. Simple continue south on I-94 past the park (you'll see the massive, white America Eagle roller coaster to your left) and take the exit for Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21) north. Continue past Washington Street to Grand Avenue and take the left (westbound), and in less than a mile you'll be at the park's gates (continue a little further west if your destination is Gurnee Mills or KeyLime Cove is your destination).

if you are taking Route 41 south into Illinois, an easy detour can avoid the closed ramp south of Russell Road. Take the Russell Road west exit and continue west a little ways until you reach Old US-41. Head south on Old 41, which reunites with Route 41 south of Edwards Road. Fortunately, as part of the expansion project, 94 was given counterflow (express) lanes throughout much of its stretch through Lake County, and these can also be used to avoid becoming bogged down. if you are traveling northwards from Gurnee to Wisconsin, you can hop into the counterflow lane just north of Grand and take it up past Mill Creek Road. Similarly, if you are heading south away from Gurnee, you can use the counterflow lane just south of Grand to speed up your commute. This lane stretches down to Lake Cook Road with intermittent connections to regular traffic flow along the way.

For those continuing south on 94 past Lake Cook Road, the counterflow lane makes a reappearance soon after the break near Lake Cook. This one will take you on a straight shot south, but you won't be able to exit again until you reach Ballard Road (just south of Golf Road before Dempster Street). If you are heading downtown to Chicago, you can continue even further in the counterflow lane, and the next change to exit opens up a little north of Touhy Avenue.

Once in Gurnee, you may wish to travel around the area while avoiding the main thoroughfare of Grand Avenue. If heading to Gurnee Mills, a nice alternative is to take Route 41 to Stearns School Road just north of Grand. Stearns School runs parallel to Grand and connects directly to the north side of the mall. Washington Street and Belvidere Road (Route 120) also run parallel to Grand to the south, and provide less-traveled routes for those commuting within the county. These roads connect to Grand just west of Gurnee Mills via Hunt Club Road and just east of Great America via Route 21. Once completed, the cumulative Lake County construction projects will boost efficiency in travel time and provide relief from traffic congestion, and in the meantime, hopefully, these alternate routes will make your sailing a little smoother.

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