Dangerous Bucktown Intersection Getting Major Realignment
CHICAGO (CBS) -- In an effort to reduce the number of traffic congestion and crashes at one of the most accident-prone intersections in the city, work was scheduled to begin Thursday to reconfigure the six-corner intersection of Damen, Elston, and Fullerton avenues.
The $60 million project in Bucktown will create three independent new signal-controlled intersections, by rerouting Elston to the north of the current six-way configuration.
"This intersection at Damen, Elston, and Fullerton; it's a major sticking point in our traffic network for the North Side. It's been in the top 10 for crashes citywide for more than a decade now. It has more traffic than it can handle under the current configuration," Chicago Department of Transportation spokesman Mike Claffey said.
Unfortunately, traffic at the location will get worse for the next year-and-a-half, until work is completed.
"We're going to be reducing Damen and Elston to one lane in each direction, north of Fullerton. This is in order to carry out demolition work for the Midtown Tennis Club, to make way for the realignment of Elston Avenue," Claffey said.
After the demolition, lane closings will shift on Damen and Elston so crews can install new sewer and water lines under the streets.
The project was scheduled to be completed in November 2016.
Meantime, drivers have been advised to use Diversey Parkway, Clybourn Avenue, or Ashland Avenue as alternate routes.