Driving from Dekalb, IL to WDW this weekend - construction avoidance?

[luvavacation]

We normally drive route 47 from our area, cut across on 24, then pick up 65 and go south through Indiana. From where we live, it saves time rather than going through all the traffic and congestion in Chicago/Northern IN. Also, I prefer the higher speed limit in IN, since I tend to drive about 75 anyway, for my speedometer seems to be stuck on that whenever I enter the highway (and this places me only 5 miles over the limit in IN). Problem is, last time we drove this, we sat for almost 2.5 hours in construction traffic around Indianapolis. Not fun!

I am considering going through IL this time on 57, and cutting over at Paducah, KY. While I will set the cruise at a lower speed for this if I can avoid construction delays, if I will be stuck in construction anyway I would rather just go through IN.

Any updates from recent drivers? Leaving on a Friday, mid-day, if it helps. Thanks!

 

[MOpGrad2013]

We have construction on I-24 eastbound on the kentucky/tennessee border. The construction is only a few miles, but it is down to one lane. (kentucky mm 86, mm89, tennesse mm 1) Yesterday afternoon it was backed up and moving slow. greyhound bus returning from st louis was 25 min late.
But, if you can time it before 3pm and after 6pm, you shouldnt have too much issue.
If you see (hear)it backing up, take the pennyrile parkway from paducah to hopkinsville. get off on 41alt heading to fort campbell army base. drive for 9 miles and you'll see the interstate overpass. If it's not clear, continue on 41a to 79 onto the next I-24. Otherwise, follow the on ramp detour info and you'll be "movin right along."
feel free to PM for even better directions through the town of clarksville.

 

[LadyBeBop]

There was a major construction project through Indianapolis several years ago. However, that's complete.

Driving through the past two weekends, we ran into no construction problems. However, we took I-465/865 around the eastern suburbs. Since we come in on I-74 from Cincinnati, it's easier to take the bypass.

However, there was no indication of any construction problems on any other the other expressways.

 

[Indy Denise]

There is nothing major in Indianapolis right now. Any highway construction is usually being worked on the weekends only ., and there is not much of that .

 

[marius97]

We normally drive route 47 from our area, cut across on 24, then pick up 65 and go south through Indiana. From where we live, it saves time rather than going through all the traffic and congestion in Chicago/Northern IN. Also, I prefer the higher speed limit in IN, since I tend to drive about 75 anyway, for my speedometer seems to be stuck on that whenever I enter the highway (and this places me only 5 miles over the limit in IN). Problem is, last time we drove this, we sat for almost 2.5 hours in construction traffic around Indianapolis. Not fun!

I am considering going through IL this time on 57, and cutting over at Paducah, KY. While I will set the cruise at a lower speed for this if I can avoid construction delays, if I will be stuck in construction anyway I would rather just go through IN.

Any updates from recent drivers? Leaving on a Friday, mid-day, if it helps. Thanks!

Glad you asked...We'll be coming down from MI to WDW this weekend. We go through Indy too. I'm another put the cruise control on five over kind of guy. Havn't been pulled over for that yet. Though driving to Florida my excitement has been known to make me go all the way up to 6 over. I hit all of the state DOT websites last week and nothing really jumped out at me. I looked like just the normal summer construction here and there. Indy looked fine (that has been a mess for years. We got hit by a highway closure in Nashville last year, but that seems to be open now too.

Safe driving.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Exit 4 at Paducah was flooded on Saturday. Not sure if it's receded yet or not as I know the Ohio hasn't crested yet. Shouldn't be an issue on the Interstate, but may limit your lunch plans.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Almost forgot. There is construction on I-65 around the Mammoth Caves area. But it shouldn't slow you down too much. (We drove down to Nashville about 3 1/2 weeks ago.)

 

[luvavacation]

Thank you all for the information! Now if only someone had said to completely avoid this highway or that, my decision would be easier.

Since highways don't seem to be a big problem this summer, I suppose I shall watch the weather reports instead. Normally my only concern is mountain snow in the winter, but looks like this year I need to be concerned about bad storms and the route those are taking. I don't know about the rest of you, but some dry weather would be welcome for some of us!