Cars backed up in middle of the Damen, Elston and Fullerton intersection around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, on the eve before construction begins. [DNAinfo/Alisa Hauser]
BUCKTOWN — The approximately $60 million remake of the dangerous and oft-clogged Damen, Elston and Fullerton intersection is set to begin after the evening rush hour on Thursday.
Though folks are being advised to take alternate routes during the 18-month-long project, the lane closures will not happen all at once, and will impact only small stretches of the arterial streets, CDOT spokesman Michael Claffey told some 30 residents Wednesday night at a community meeting at Vienna Beef, 2501 N. Damen Ave.
Beginning Thursday, weather permitting, Elston Avenue just north of Fullerton will be reduced to one lane in either direction. That lane closure — to accommodate partial demolition of the Midtown Athletic Club — will impact about 300 feet, or 15 to 20 car lengths, of Elston.
After the Elston demolition is complete, a portion of Fullerton just east of Damen and west of the Chicago River will close in mid-June so crews can demolish a former Whirlyball and shopping complex.
CDOT's map of Phase 1 Traffic Impacts, through August:
CDOT's Map of Alternative Bike Routes:
Once open, the new Elston Avenue will bypass the current intersection and cross Fullerton about one block east of the current intersection, according to renderings.
An aerial view of the existing Damen, Elston and Fullerton intersection remake. [Courtesy of CDOT]
An aerial view of what the Damen, Elston and Fullerton intersection will look like when the remake is completed at the end of 2016. [Courtesy of CDOT]
During the construction, motorists will be advised by CDOT to take other routes, using Ashland and Clybourn avenues as alternatives for Damen and Elston and Diversey Parkway or North Avenue as an alternative to Fullerton Avenue.
"Bikes will be sharing the road with cars and pedestrians will be able to pass through [during the construction]," Claffey said.
The rerouting of Elston Avenue will lessen the impact of traffic at the intersection, which sees 70,000 vehicles a day and consistently ranks in the top five intersections for the most traffic accidents each year.
Alisa Hauser says it could be a traffic disaster during construction:
Waits to make a turn at the intersection can be as long as seven minutes, city officials said back in 2011.
The massive project has impacted several companies and required the city to execute eminent domain for properties that will be demolished because the newly rerouted Elston Avenue will run through the former sites.
The "new Elston," to be called "Elston Court" will span about three city blocks and is expected to be completed in late spring of 2016, but hopefully partially open by the end of the year, Claffey said.
Additional traffic restrictions will be required in all streets next year to install new utilities in Damen, Fullerton and existing Elston south of Fullerton. All work is projected to be substantially completed in November of 2016.
The largest benefit, from a safety perspective, will be that Elston Avenue will no longer cut through Damen Avenue, just a few car lengths north of Fullerton. The two traffic lights and warning of "oncoming traffic has a longer green" in close proximity have confused and perplexed drivers and cyclists for years.
Claffey said that the complete reconstruction and redesign of this intersection will "provide major improvements for everyone who travels through the area."
"There is a lot of anxiety about the construction itself and residents are most concerned about the increased congestion," Paul Sajovec, a spokesman for Ald. Scott Waguespack, said after the meeting.
For more information on the project, visit cityofchicago.org/transportation, call 312-744-5900 or email CDOT.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
