Chicago City Wire

Examples of horrific vehicle accidents and costly truck accidents are shown on Fulton Market Association's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1ZNhL-SGj7vGWluc0nkcag.  See the May 13 video of two vehicles colliding at the Lake-Kilbourn intersection due to the Structure's lack of visibility.  The accident was so violent that a man was thrown from his car.  Today's press conference is held at this intersection.

For many years - - and on April 9, May 18, June 3 and June 10 this year - - semi-trailer trucks costing about $50,000 each are getting caught under the Lake St. Structure, ripping themselves apart trying to  get free, then remaining stuck until emergency personnel arrive.  Many truck drivers are first-time visitors to Chicago, unfamiliar with the Structure's antiquated conditions.

Built in 1896 before vehicles or trucks ran in Chicago, the Lake St. Structure between Talman Ave. and Laramie Ave. is the most dangerous street in Chicago due to its narrow two-way traffic and low truck clearances.  If the U.S. government passes an infrastructure bill in coming weeks as expected, the first $2 billion should flow to the Westside to fix Lake St.; fix the dangerous Eisenhower Expressway Ramps at Austin Bl. and Harlem Ave.; build a long-needed CTA Green Line Station at Western Ave.; and make other urgent improvements as detailed at www.fixthewestside.com.

Say Romanelli, Britton and Waller, "After decades of government leaders ignoring the Lake St. Structure and Chicago's Westside suffering from unsafe conditions, poverty and crime, our Westside Infrastructure Coalition aims to hold today's government officials accountable.  For Chicago's essential safety and equitable economic development on the Westside, we must fix the disastrous Lake St. Structure, repair other infrastructure deficiencies and bring new jobs, housing and hope to residents plagued for decades by poverty and crime.”

At today's press conference, the Coalition  will: a) Ask Lightfoot to install proper Chicago Transportation Department truck-clearance signs (maximum truck height & width signs) along Lake St. and for its north-south arterial streets between Western Ave. and Laramie Ave. to prevent truck accidents under the Structure.  b) Ask Davis to keep his May 5th pledge to gain $2 billion federal funds from the imminent federal government infrastructure bill to fix Lake St. and other Westside deficiencies.  

Davis participated in the Coalition’s May 5th Zoom Call, backed their $2 billion plan and promised to assist communications with U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth.  Since May 5, Davis has ducked numerous attempts by the Coalition to move forward urgently and secure a $2 billion pledge from Durbin and Duckworth.  The Coalition also wants Illinois Governor JB Pritzker to contribute $500 million funds for Westside infrastructure improvements since state lawmakers enacted a 38 cents/gallon gas tax in 2019 for infrastructure improvements.

25 years ago, Chicago received $400 million federal funds paid by taxpayers to relocate the Lake St. Structure's center-lane steel columns to the sidewalks for 3 miles east of Western Ave.  If the columns are likewise relocated to the sidewalks west of Western Ave., new businesses, jobs and housing will flow to Westside residents who deserve to be lifted out of poverty and escape criminal activity often caused by economic despair.

For more information, contact Roger Romanelli, Fulton Market Association Executive Director and Westside Infrastructure Coalition Coordinator: roger@fultonmarketchicago.org • (773) 531-6370 • www.fultonmarketchicago.org