City Releases Renderings of Long-Awaited 6-Way Intersection Revamp

The city is finally taking a major step necessary to remedy what's been known for some time as one of Chicago's most dangerous intersections.

The area where North Damen, North Elston and West Fullerton avenues cross—along Bucktown's northern border slightly shy of Lincoln Park—ranked first and second in the city for its number of crashes between 2004 and 2007. It has continued to fall in the top 10 through 2011, according to 32nd Ward Ald. Scott Waguespack's office.

North Side officials have been steadily chipping away at a to-do list that will allow them to revamp the intersection, but Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced last week that he submitted an official proposal to the City Council to acquire the nine parcels of land needed to complete the project.

“For more than a decade, the city has been planning to make improvements to this congested and dangerous intersection," he said, in a news release. "Residents have been waiting for this project for some time—just as they wait for lights at the intersection—it’s time that we move the project forward."

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Between 82,000 and 90,000 vehicles pass through the intersection every day, Chicago Department of Transportation data indicates, and traffic often backs up there. 

The plan calls for rerouting Elston so that it meets Fullerton east of Damen and then continues to rejoin the existing Elston right of way north of Fullerton.

It also includes protected bike lanes along Elston Avenue, two new traffic signals and a bidirectional turn lane, according to Waguespack's website.

Work is estimated to cost around $36.3 million and should be completed by December 2015. Emanuel says it will also create 100 construction jobs and spur economic development in the corridor.

The nine land parcels are located between 1875-2002 W. Fullerton Ave., 2357-2501 N. Damen and 2301-2447 N. Elston Ave., and fall within or adjacent to the North Branch Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District.

About $27 million in TIF funds will be used to buy the properties and complete design work for the reconfiguration, Emanuel says.

Companies that would be impacted by the intersection improvements are already working with the city on their individual relocation.

"This proposed project will significantly improve traffic safety and capacity and involves the acquisition of only a handful of properties and no displacement of any existing residences," Waguespack said.

Crews are expected to break ground in the fall of 2014.

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