The Great Chicago Expressway Odyssey: A Quest for (Maybe) A Number
Ah, Chicago. City of wind, deep dish pizza, and...expressways? Those long, winding ribbons of asphalt that seem to multiply like rabbits whenever you think you've grasped the layout. But how many exactly are there? Buckle up, folks, because this is a question that has left even the bravest explorers scratching their heads.
Is it 10? Or maybe 30? Depends on who you ask and how many cups of deep dish coma you've emerged from.
Some sources will point you towards a neat and tidy number, like 10. Sounds manageable, right? Like a day trip to conquer them all. Wrong. Chicago weaves these expressways in and out of each other like a traffic weaving champion. One minute you're on I-90, the next you're inexplicably on I-290, wondering where all the exits went. It's enough to make your GPS cry existential tears.
Then there are the bolder claims: 30 expressways! Now we're talking a true Chicagoland adventure. This option sounds like a recipe for a full-blown identity crisis. Are you on the Edens Expressway, or have you somehow materialized onto its evil twin, the Edens Spur? The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind (or more likely, whipping your car around a cloverleaf interchange).
So, what's the real answer? The truth is, it depends on your definition of "expressway." Do you count the stubby little spur roads? What about those sneaky highways that wear two Interstate hats like a schizophrenic fashion model? The answer, like Chicago deep dish, is a bit messy and endlessly debatable.
Here's your takeaway: Enjoy the ride! Chicago's expressways are a chaotic ballet of concrete and confusion, but they're also a testament to the city's never-say-die spirit. Just keep your eyes peeled for exit signs (unless you're feeling adventurous) and crank up some tunes. Maybe even a good audiobook on Zen koans for navigating the existential dread of Chicago's ever-shifting expressway labyrinth.
