Directions to Bradley Bourbonnais ?

[all4theillini]

For those who live in the area...heading to the the game tomorrow.

Would normally take 88->355->80->57 but that has disaster written all over it Friday
4:30-5pm.

I did some poking around on Google maps I wanted to see if 355->30->45 would be a viable alternative.

Thanks in advance

 

[HHSTigerFan]

If you can figure out how to take 355 to Cedar Rd to 52 to 45 to North St... how I would go

 

[Bwm57]

For those who live in the area...heading to the the game tomorrow.

Would normally take 88->355->80->57 but that has disaster written all over it Friday
4:30-5pm.

I did some poking around on Google maps I wanted to see if 355->30->45 would be a viable alternative.

Thanks in advance

A4I,
That route will work, but you will probably be better taking 80 east to RT45/LaGrange Rd and just taking it south from there. 80 shouldn't be bad in that section like it might be in the summer with people going to Michigan/ Indiana and there are lots of lights on 30. LaGrange Rd won't have much traffic after the first little bit when you get off 80.

 

[ref2]

A4I,
That route will work, but you will probably be better taking 80 east to RT45/LaGrange Rd and just taking it south from there. 80 shouldn't be bad in that section like it might be in the summer with people going to Michigan/ Indiana and there are lots of lights on 30. LaGrange Rd won't have much traffic after the first little bit when you get off 80.

Good call, once you get south of Laraway should be smooth sailing.

 

[badfrog68]

All41,

I would bypass 80 because that can be hit or miss on a Friday night. May get to 45 on 80 east from 355 in 10 minutes or maybe 1 hour, you never know. I take 355 to SW Highway go left to Cedar. Take a right on Cedar through New Lenox to Monee-Manhattan Road and take a left. Take Monee-Manhattan Road to 45 and take a right. Follow 45 all the way to Bradley and take a left on North St. School on left. After you get past 30 in New Lenox, very easy travelling.

Note: Parking is adequate, the field is really nice, the home bleachers are good but the away bleachers (in my opinion) are terrible. They are long but only go 4 rows deep. Even if you get the "top" row, you may not have full field view as the players will block your view. You are close to the action but may miss some of it. If Geneva travels well, these small bleachers will fill up fast and even if you get a seat, you will feel cramped. Try your best to get there early or possibly pay the consequences.

 

[Bwm57]

Either way will work, but, I drive that route every day coming home from work and there is no way 80 is that crowded at this time of year between 355 and 45 barring an accident or something.

 

[all4theillini]

Either way will work, but, I drive that route every day coming home from work and there is no way 80 is that crowded at this time of year between 355 and 45 barring an accident or something.

I want to thank everyone for the input! Had a stroke of good luck today and will be able to leave almost 1.5 hours earlier than expected....we can meander without worry.

One other question ~ what's a good local place to eat (am not above total dives if it's good food)? We happenchanced on a great place (The Pit-Roberts Rd) in Hickory Hills when Geneva traveled to Richards and hope to find something similar.

Thanks again in advance.

 

[GMAN81]

HHS is the one who has this exactly right. You get off 355 at Southwest highway ( the last exit before I-80) and take a left there to Cedar which is right there. Right on Cedar going south. You'll take that through a stop sign at Francis Rd. Then you will come to Rt 30. (tracks right before 30) Go straight through that light. You will go left and then right at the "S" turn at Cedar and Haven. Keep going south on Cedar. There will be a light at Cedar and Illinois Hwy. Keep going south across the tracks. The next stop light will be Laraway Rd. Go straight for 4 miles. You will come to the corner of Cedar and Manhattan Road. (blinking light) You can continue on straight or go left. If you go left you will travel another 4 miles to Rt 45. You take a right there and continue on to Bourbonnais. If you go straight Cedar will run into 52 going south. That will bend sharply left and will also take you to 45.

When you get into Bourbonnais look for a Speedway at the corner of Rt 45 and William Latham Sr. Drive, (going right) and Armour Rd (going left) . You are almost there. Keep on going straight (south) You are on Convent St. You will bend right and then left. You will see Olivet Nazarene University on the left as you approach North St. When you get to North Street turn left and the school will be on the left. I think it's on the corner of North and Cleveland.

You really don't want to mess around going 80 east to 45 south. No sense in going through Frankfort. New Lenox is much easier.

 

[HHSTigerFan]

Absolutely, there is no reason to stay on 80.. 52 is awesome, little traffic and just a couple of stop signs..

At the school, go past the school and park on the east side of the building, that lot is much easier to get out of..

 

[goodnamesaregone]

I want to thank everyone for the input! Had a stroke of good luck today and will be able to leave almost 1.5 hours earlier than expected....we can meander without worry.

One other question ~ what's a good local place to eat (am not above total dives if it's good food)? We happenchanced on a great place (The Pit-Roberts Rd) in Hickory Hills when Geneva traveled to Richards and hope to find something similar.

Thanks again in advance.

I agree with BWM that I-80 this time of year isn't bad.

As to restaurants, it depends on what you want. I'd recommend BrickStone Brewery, which has a good selection of micro-brews and good food (fabulous warm bread). It's on Latham pretty close to the school too. If you're looking for pizza, I like the local chain Monicals, and there is a southside staple Aurelio's in the area too. Other than those, Route 50 and I-57 has a lot of chain restaurants. (I'd go with the Brewery. I had a great IPA there about 3 weeks ago.)

 

[HHSTigerFan]

If looking for pizza, have to go with Sammys, waaaaay better than Monicals... two spots, both just a few minutes from BBCHS.. Bourbonnais off 45 in Heritage Plaza or Kankakee on 5th Ave.. happy hour before game too, $1.50 bottles..

Brickstone good too, can be a little more crowdwd on weekends

 

[Clint Cosgrove]

Download the app "Waze". It can take you on some random routes, but it will get you there the fastest way possible. It will also alert you of hazards, police, accidents etc...

 

[crusader_of_90]

Download the app "Waze". It can take you on some random routes, but it will get you there the fastest way possible. It will also alert you of hazards, police, accidents etc...

I like Jane from the UK to guide me ever since they got rid of Elvis.

 

[GMAN81]

I agree with BWM that I-80 this time of year isn't bad.

As to restaurants, it depends on what you want. I'd recommend BrickStone Brewery, which has a good selection of micro-brews and good food (fabulous warm bread). It's on Latham pretty close to the school too. If you're looking for pizza, I like the local chain Monicals, and there is a southside staple Aurelio's in the area too. Other than those, Route 50 and I-57 has a lot of chain restaurants. (I'd go with the Brewery. I had a great IPA there about 3 weeks ago.)

Do NOT take I-80. The issue isn't I-80 so much as it is Rt 45 south when you get off which can be a real pain in the ***. I am telling you New Lenox is WAY easier to get through. You won't have decent sailing on 45 at least until you get to Laraway road.

I have driven this whole area for almost 30 years on business and HHS lives down there. We know what we're talking about. This is the quickest way...period. If you aren't interested in getting there as quick as possible then you can try something else.

 

[all4theillini]

Any idea if the 355 exit before 80 is labeled as route 6 or Maple Rd?

 

[HHSTigerFan]

I think Rt 6 and Southwest?

And if you go to Sammys, get the Tough Guy pizza, its just awesome..

 

[goodnamesaregone]

Any idea if the 355 exit before 80 is labeled as route 6 or Maple Rd?

I'm pretty sure it's labelled Southwest Highway. When you come to the end of the ramp, you take a left (which sends you East) to Cedar (which is a light). Then follow Doc's directions. (If you're going to the Brewery, it's not far from Route 45 and Latham.)

 

[goodnamesaregone]

All4- sorry for the outcome for you. Hopefully the trip was easy, you had a nice meal and the experience was enjoyable (despite the outcome).

 

[all4theillini]

I would like to thank everyone who posted their suggestions! We ended up taking 355 to SW highway to Cedar RD to 52 to 45 into town and made it from Geneva to the Brickstone Brewery in 2 hours on the button which is not bad for that time of day. We didn't partake in any beverages but had a good meal in a nice place.
Crap game but those things happen.
57 to 80 and home on the way back. Painless drive in about an hour.

Was impressed with the facilities at BB. Nice field, nice track, immaculate baseball field. One thing though - it's the 21st century - why are there no restrooms at the field?!? Peeing in a pitch-black port-o-let and then washing your hands with foot-pumped ice water is no way to do things.

We ended up standing on the press box roof but it was a nice experience overall (wish I could've done more driving in daylight). Best of luck to Bradley-Bourbonnais as they proceed through the playoffs and there's always next year for my Vikings.

P.S. - want to hit the Country Place on 52 someday; it looked like an interesting place to grab a drink.

 

[HHSTigerFan]

P.S. - want to hit the Country Place on 52 someday; it looked like an interesting place to grab a drink.

Temper those expectations...

No idea why no bathrooms..

And heard on radio Geneva is now 0-3 against Kankakee County teams in the playoffs.. losses to BB, Herscher and Mac..

 

[Bwm57]

That's one of the most well maintained baseball fields in Chicagoland area.

 

[Anon1754760634]

Also whoever said 80 isn't bad hasn't driven it over the past 5-7 years. 80 anywhere on the Joliet to say Tinley portion is horrible needed to go three lanes wide at least for 10 plus years now

 

[all4theillini]

Temper those expectations...

And heard on radio Geneva is now 0-3 against Kankakee County teams in the playoffs.. losses to BB, Herscher and Mac..

That's correct.
@ Mac OT in '82
@ Herscher '89
@ BB '15
Kankakee County has not been good for Geneva through the years.

Not sure if I have any expectation for the Country Place...just seems like the type of place that'd be up for grabs if the wrong NASCAR driver was spoken poorly of...reminded me of the Winner's Circle in Sycamore as we were driving by.

 

[Bwm57]

Also whoever said 80 isn't bad hasn't driven it over the past 5-7 years. 80 anywhere on the Joliet to say Tinley portion is horrible needed to go three lanes wide at least for 10 plus years now

Westbound is slow at night, but he wasn't going west, he was going east.
I drive the 355 to Rt 45 stretch every night and you can go 80 miles per hour if you want.

 

[ref2]

That's one of the most well maintained baseball fields in Chicagoland area.

Funny thing is when it starts to drizzle, the ground maintenance man, who the field is named after(Use to coach there many years ago) wants you to stop the game. He gives the kids grief for cleaning their spikes in the grass etc. etc. But he does do a great job on the field. Heard he trims the edges of the infield by hand.

 

[Bwm57]

Yep, he sweeps the infield dirt out of the grass with a broom. It's cool to watch from the top of the football stands.

 

[Corey90]

Must be like my neighbor across the street. He uses a tooth brush to clean the cracks in his cement driveway. Blocks the end of the driveway with a bucket and broom sticks so the kids don't leave black marks with there bicycles. I always thought he had a screw loose. Get this he is a retired school teacher. Maybe he did?