CHICAGO – The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) today cut the ribbon on the first phase of a major reconstruction project along Grand Avenue in the West Town neighborhood, creating a safer and more accessible corridor for people walking, biking, taking transit, and driving. The project addresses longstanding neighborhood traffic safety concerns and improves access to local businesses on Grand between Chicago Avenue and Damen Avenue.  

“The project we’re celebrating today exemplifies Chicago’s Complete Streets approach of balancing the needs of all road users to create safer and more inviting spaces,” said CDOT Commissioner Tom Carney. “We not only upgraded the aging infrastructure of Grand Avenue but also focused on reducing dangerous speeding and enhancing safety for people walking, biking, and taking transit.”

Prior to the completion of this project, this segment of Grand Avenue experienced significant traffic safety concerns, including dangerous driver speeds and challenges for people walking to cross the street. CDOT observations prior to construction saw drivers regularly exceeding 40 mph and top speeds of over 70 mph. With these traffic safety concerns in mind, this reconstruction project prioritized calming traffic to safer speeds, creating a more comfortable environment for everyone using the street.

Project highlights include:

• New Plaza at Grand and Western avenues, replacing a slip lane which created increased conflict points between people walking and people driving.
• Raised crosswalks along side streets that encourage drivers to slow down before the crosswalk and makes people crossing the street more visible to drivers.
• Pedestrian refuge islands which reduce crossing distances for people walking across Grand.
• Wider sidewalks, street trees, and new LED lighting to create a more inviting, walkable corridor.
• Bus boarding islands that provide exclusive space for bus riders to wait and streamline transit operations so that buses do not need to merge in and out of traffic at bus stops.
• Protected bike lanes that physically separate cyclists from motor vehicle traffic.
• Upgraded traffic signals, including Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS), which help people who are blind or have low vision cross the street.

 
The next phase of the project, on Grand Avenue from Damen Avenue to Ogden Avenue, is expected to begin construction next spring. More information is available on the project website.

You can learn more about traffic safety, Chicago’s expanding bikeway network, pedestrian safety programs, and transit infrastructure at Chicago.gov/CompleteStreets.