RAVENSWOOD MANOR — Motorists beware: The temporary cut off of cut-through traffic in Ravenswood Manor starts Monday.
Drivers who use Manor Avenue as a thruway between Lawrence and Montrose — often on the advice of GPS systems and traffic apps — will need to find a new route, as both north- and southbound autos will be diverted at Wilson Avenue.
Here's what you need to know about the two-month trial:
• Whose idea was this?
The Chicago Department of Transportation came up with the diverter plan in conjunction with the 33rd Ward and the ward's Transportation Action Committee in response to complaints from residents about the amount of cut-through traffic on Manor Avenue.
The diverter was proposed as a way to make Manor safer for pedestrians and cyclists, particularly as the avenue is a designated connector for the continuation of the riverfront bike path.
• What exactly is the diverter?
On Monday, motorists will encounter "do not enter" barricades placed on Manor at the intersection with Wilson.
Drivers on Manor will be forced to turn east or west onto Wilson; drivers on Wilson will not be allowed to turn onto Manor.
Two-way traffic will be maintained on Manor north and south of Wilson, but no autos will be allowed through the intersection. Cyclists and pedestrians will not be affected by the diverter — they can continue through Wilson.
• Is this permanent?
Not yet. The diverter will be in place through Nov. 18, at which point CDOT and Ald. Deb Mell (33rd) will assess the results and determine whether to make the cut-off permanent.
• How will anyone know if the diverter is working or just making things worse on other streets in the neighborhood?
Residents have complained that the diverter will be a "disaster" for traffic on Wilson Avenue.
During the evening rush hour on Thursday, DNAinfo observed westbound cars backed up on Wilson from the stop sign at Manor to the Chicago River bridge. A police patrol car was stationed at the intersection to discourage motorists from running the stop sign, according to officers.
Throughout the two-month diverter trial, CDOT will collect data on traffic counts at numerous points in Ravenswood Manor and into Ravenswood Gardens east of the Chicago River to determine how the cut-off is affecting motorists' habits (see map below).
In early 2017, CDOT will present this data to the community and discuss next steps.
The next meeting of the 33rd Ward Transportation Action Committee is set for 6:30 p.m., Sept. 22, at the Horner Park fieldhouse, 2741 W. Montrose Ave.
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