West Loop residents angered by interchange construction Published: 04-05-13 Contributing Writer chronicle@chroniclemail.com Kaitlin Lounsberry, Contributing Writer Irate West Loop residents voiced concerns about the Illinois Department of Transportation’s proposed reconstruction of the Circle Interchange, which connects several major highways downtown, during an April 3 public hearing held at 625 S. Ashland Ave. by IDOT. The Circle Interchange, which links the Dan Ryan, Kennedy and Eisenhower expressways and Congress Parkway, is ranked as the nation’s worst freight bottleneck, perpetuating traffic congestion and accidents, based on a September 2011 study by the American Transportation Research Institute and the Federal Highway Administration Office of Freight Management and Operations. Although it has more than 40,000 vehicles traveling the interchange daily, the structure has not undergone any major improvements since it was constructed in 1960. Despite IDOT’s claim that renovation is overdue, community members at the meeting stated they fear the updated roadway will increase noise and air pollution in the area, particularly near the Green Street Lofts, 400 S. Green St, where a two-lane ramp could be constructed within 20 feet of the building, according to the project plan. “Not only is the concern safety, we’re also very concerned on how they’re going to protect our building as they do this construction,” John Lisiecki, a resident of the Green Street Lofts, said. “Right now we have dirt that comes up the side of our building, which [is the foundation of] our building. If they tear that down and put pylons in to bring this bridge across, I’m not sure what’s going to happen to our building.” The ramp is one part of the reconstruction plan IDOT and the Federal Highway Administration developed to address the traffic safety and
aesthetic factors, according to an April 3 public hearing document. Eliminating exits, such as the Taylor Street exit from eastbound I-290, and redirecting traffic by moving four downtown street exit ramps on I-90/94 south of the interchange and limiting access to Morgan Street are changes IDOT believes will enhance safety on the interchange, which has a reported 1,100 crashes per year, according to the Circle Interchange website. If construction, tentatively scheduled to begin in mid-2014, is finished by the year 2040, there will be up to a 50 percent reduction in traffic jams, saving up to $185 million annually and saving up to 1.6 million gallons of gasoline annually, according to an April 3 IDOT press release. If approved, the plan would cost $420 million, according to a March 14 state press release. Community members were able to direct questions to IDOT Project Manager Steve Schilke during the hearing concerning the safety of residents at Green Street Lofts. “We are hearing these [concerns], we’re making modifications plans in order to try to address and alleviate some of your concerns,” Schilke said. “Ultimately, understand that we are moving ahead and we’re trying to look and reanalyze the noise at this particular location … to further alleviate the situation.” Alderman Bob Fioretti (2nd Ward) attended the meeting and urged residents to relay their concerns to the governor because he supports the reconstruction. Fioretti addressed attendees after the meeting to express his disappointment in the way it was conducted. He said IDOT gave residents inadequate notice of the meeting, and the small space and lack of organization prevented community members from openly addressing Schilke. “Let’s all send a letter to the governor, let’s have some public hearings on it, and at $450 million, if they’re going to do something here, they can have a few more public hearings and not just the two
mandated,” Fioretti said. “This is the worst public outreach I’ve ever seen by IDOT.”