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Fullerton Avenue Streetscape Project Halfway Complete

By Mina Bloom | August 11, 2016 5:58am
 Crews working on the north side of the street Wednesday.
Crews working on the north side of the street Wednesday.
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DNAinfo/Mina Bloom

LINCOLN PARK — This week marks the halfway point of the Fullerton Avenue streetscape project. 

The $5.5 million project is meant to enhance Fullerton from Ashland to Racine avenues.

In addition to resurfacing, crews are creating wider sidewalks and decorative crosswalks, as well as adding permeable pavers, updated lighting, more trees and street bump-outs with rain gardens and planters. Plus, some of the old train tracks are getting removed. 

After a little more than three months of work, crews have finished working on the south side of Fullerton and have now moved their equipment to the north side of the street. Parking will be prohibited while there's active construction.


The project has brought wider sidewalks, brick inlays and planting areas to the south side of the street. [DNAinfo/Mina Bloom]

After crews wrap up on the north side of the street, the only thing left to do is resurface the westbound and eastbound lanes.

If all goes according to plan, the project is expected to be finished in November.

Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd), whose ward includes the project, has said enhancing the street will not only make transportation smoother, but it'll also help existing businesses and draw in new ones.

"It gives businesses greater opportunities for things like sidewalk cafes," Hopkins previously said. "Some of the spaces along Fullerton haven't always [attracted] the types of leases that they should for such a busy corridor. We know that by making this investment, it's going to spark that private investment as well."

Neighbors are encouraged to attend weekly construction meetings, which are held at 11 a.m. every Tuesday at the project office, 1851 N. Elston Ave.


A rendering of the proposed changes. [Chicago Department of Transportation]

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