A Way To Ease Traffic In Burr Ridge: Officials

BURR RIDGE, IL – In discussing Wolf Road improvements, Burr Ridge officials last week noted another plan to ease traffic – extending 71st Street to Wolf.

Before Burr Ridge Village Center opened 15 years ago, residents on 72nd Street were concerned about more traffic. Their street goes from the Village Center to beyond Wolf.

"The increased traffic has come to fruition," Burr Ridge Trustee Guy Franzese said at a Village Board meeting.

Years ago, the plan was to extend 71st Street to Wolf Road, connecting to a ramp to Interstate 294. That would have required a bridge over Flagg Creek.

"It was a good idea then, but we didn't do it for very good reasons," Mary Gary Grasso said.

Grasso acknowledged residents on 71st may be unhappy if more traffic were routed to their street.

Officials were talking about the issue during a presentation by Tony Spinelli, Indian Head Park's village engineer, on Wolf Road improvements. He is the engineer for Indian Head Park, which is spearheading the project on behalf of Cook County.

The Wolf Road improvements would involve sections of the road in Indian Head Park, Burr Ridge, Countryside and Willow Springs.

Spinelli said a study showed a traffic light at 72nd and Wolf was unwarranted.

"At this point, the numbers don't justify it," he said.

But he conceded some may question why officials would wait to install a traffic light until after something bad happens.

Spinelli said he would consider the issues with 72nd and Wolf when writing the report on Wolf improvements.