The Chicago Department of Transportation proposed a project that will improve traffic congestion at the intersection of Damen, Elston and Fullerton Avenues Wednesday.
CDOT officials said the intersection is one of the most congested intersections in the city, and it’s one of the top 10 collision areas.
Officials said it can take drivers up to seven minutes to complete a turn at this intersection, and the number of accidents there has increased every year since 2008. Damen Avenue and Fullerton Avenue intersect at a right angle, while Elston Avenue intersects both roads diagonally, causing skews in traffic flow.
CDOT proposed that Elston Avenue be rerouted, creating three separate intersections. The reroute would make Elston Avenue run parallel to Damen Avenue until they both intersect with Fullerton Avenue. Then, Elston Avenue would begin a gradual curve to the west until it intersected with Damen Avenue.
If approved, the project is scheduled to be completed in 2014 and will cost over $32 million in tax increment financing and federal highway funds. Officials said the project would make the intersection safer, less confusing for drivers and more accessible to pedestrians and cyclists.
They also said because the plan involves building an entirely new roadway, there would be minimal inconvenience during construction, and the new stretch of road could potentially promote economic development around it. The proposed route for Elston Avenue would cause several businesses, including the Midtown Shopping Center to relocate. Bridget Stalla, CDOT project manager, said if the project is approved, the businesses located in the way of the reroute will be offered a fair market price for their properties. Stalla said if the business owners decline to sell their properties willingly, the government may acquire them through eminent domain.
