Results tagged “traffic”

We may have lost the Olympics and all the construction/repairs that come along with it, but to nurture our souls we can look to a brand new interstate! According to the Chicago Tribune, a recent study indicates a potential need for a new interstate linking Illinois and Indiana due to increasing traffic rates. The proposed interstate, dubbed The Illiana Expressway, could cut congestion significantly along with providing a surge to the region’s economy. The proposed 25 to 30 mile stretch, operating as a tollway, would connect I-57 in Will County with I-65 in Lake County, Indiana and would cost as much as $1 billion.

The accolades keep rolling in. Not only are we Forbes' most stressful American city, but now the National Motorists Association have named Chicago as the worst city to drive through on Labor Day weekend. We...don't have much to argue with there. Seems like there are other cities that probably give us a run for the money (L.A., Atlanta) but the NMA has two specific reasons they outline: shady red light cameras and the parking meter fiasco.

Aside from the usual fender-benders, the Bishop Ford Expressway has had a rough week that's made travel on the highway treacherous. First was yesterday's chemical spill which closed the outbound lanes for a good chunk of yesterday. And today a crash between a car and truck shut down two southbound lanes near where the chemical leak happened yesterday. Six people were injured in the wreck - three children - but reports say none of the injuries were serious.

Citing a lack of results, the city of Schaumburg is getting rid of the one red light camera they had installed. Curious to see how the cameras worked, the city installed one at a particularly busy intersection close to Woodfield Mall. What happened next led to the eventual decision to scrap plans for more.

Ah, I-94. It's construction season. Again. As part of our penance for trying to flee to the northern climes (Lake Geneva, anyone?) during the sweltering summer, we'll be forced to sit on hot asphalt, in bumper-to-bumper traffic staring longingly off the highway. Why? Because it's time for a major highway expansion and modification north of the border. How big? Well, they're making "Are we there yet?" landmark Mars Cheese Castle move from its iconic location - 100 feet further from the roadway.

Officials from Illinois as well as Ohio, Missouri and Indiana have signed on to a development agreement that would use $5 million in federal funding to build the nation's first interstate, truck-only highway lanes along Interstate 70, the Associated Press reports.

If you were on I-90 near the northwest suburb of Hampshire last night, the traffic slow-down that lasted two hours was not from a traffic accident, rather it was from a patient who jumped from a moving ambulance while it was on the tollway.

A new study by INRIX, "a leading innovator of real-time, historical and predictive traffic information," tells us something most of us already knew: driving in Chicago sucks. According to their most recent list, Chicago ranks third in congestion behind Los Angeles and New York. Okay, but, then again, Chicago is also third in terms of population so this sort of makes sense. The area also boasts several of the worst bottlenecks in the nation. In fact, we contribute 25 of the top 100, including three in the top 20: North-bound Exit 53 (Canalport Ave/Cermak Rd) off of the Dan Ryan (#8), East-bound Exit 17 (US 12/US 20/US 45) off of the Eisenhower Expressway (#10), and - naturally - North-bound Exit 52 (Ruble) off of the Dan Ryan (#19).

With so much flooding hitting our area again - and reports of flooding already coming in, including the Bishop Ford and Dan Ryan - be sure to check up on road conditions if you have to travel. Traffic.com is a good start. Be safe out there.

photo by josephp

The CTA, Metra and the Office of Emergency Management and Communications are all working to handle the throngs of people expected to show up at Tuesday night’s rally in Grant Park. Complicating the plan is that they really have no idea how many people will attend, but they are planning for an event similar to the annual July 3 fireworks display--on steroids.

The Chicago River has flooded the north-side neighborhood Albany Park. As a result, the Chicago Fire Department has evacuated several families.

According to a report released today by the Metropolitan Planning Commission, congestion costs the Chicago region billions of dollars a year. Those numbers are always kinda debatable, but agreed: Traffic = not fun.

Trib says four, Sun-Times says three people were taken to area hospitals when when a car driven by an elderly woman plowed into a West Rogers Park Starbucks. There is no evidence the driver of the car was intoxicated, or hyped up on cafinated beverages. [S-T, Trib]

Chicago has the third worst traffic in the country, according to a new study. Only LA and New York out-congest us. Bee-beeep!

The CPD has issued 101 warnings in two hours today to drivers who failed to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk. An undercover officer tried to cross at Belmont and Lawndale in a sting operation to bust folks who don't yield to those of us on foot. The law requires drivers stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, even when there's no stop sign or traffic light, but not everyone is so into following that rule.

Not only are local gas prices awful (averaging $4.19 per gallon), but apparently so are our drivers.

The City of Chicago announced today that we're getting a $153 million government grant to try traffic-busting transit plans. On the to-do list? A special "bus rapid transit" subsystem and pricier downtown parking to make public transportation more attractive and driving drastically less so. From the USDOT press release:

Sorry, cheeky mayor of Oak Lawn. Your cheesy stop signs that say "In the Name of Love" and "Right There Pilgrim" under the traditional "STOP" are apparently a violation of federal rules about road signs.

Popular Mechanics unveiled its 10 pieces if "US infrastructure we must fix now," and Chicago is home to two of them--and we're the only city to appear twice on the list! Go us! Apparently, both the Circle Interchange (#1) and O'Hare (#10) are clusterfucks on a national scale.

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Mayor Daley sure is busy. Or at least chatty.

Chicago took another step towards fulfilling Mayor Daley’s vow that by 2016, we’ll have cameras on “almost every block.”

The City is running low on de-snowing dollars. We've already plowed through over $14 million of an $18 million budget. [S-T]

Mayor Daley introduced a new ordinance today that would fine motorists whose reckless behind-the-wheel antics endanger cyclists. Fines from $150-$500 could be levied against drivers who turn in front of someone on a bike, pass with less than three feet of space between car and bike, or door someone.

A truck hauling chocolate overturned on the northbound Skyway this morning, spilling diesel fuel but none of its precious cargo. The semi, carrying 4,000 gallons of liquid chocolate, crashed near 71st Street. Three people suffered minor injuries, and we're left to fantasize about the nastiest, biggest fondue party that could have been. We're still trying to figure out why chocolate would be transported in its liquid state and where exactly it was headed.

After months of anticipation, the $21,400,000 suspension bridge that's gradually been taking form at North Avenue appears to be nearing completion. This morning, for the first time since construction began in mid-2006, traffic is actually passing over the bridge, instead of being diverted to the temporary bridge that sits just to the south.

Wow, Alderman Tom Tunney has been having an interesting couple of months. First he gets a ticket for talking on his cell phone while driving and may have received special favors from the police department, then he makes a sweet deal and moves his flagship Ann Sather's, and now it's being reported that Tunney was the victim of an attempted holdup yesterday afternoon just a block from his 44th ward office.

After a week of having holiday music stuck in our head, we need to laugh. Luckily, there are plenty of comedy shows this weekend...