Stoplight Mulled At Darien Intersection

DARIEN, IL – A Darien resident asked local officials Monday whether they had considered a stoplight at South Frontage Road and Cass Avenue.

They said they had.

At a City Council meeting, Mary Schenk, who lives in the Waterfall Glen Condominium complex, said South Frontage Road has become busier.

Schenk figured it was because the road is seen as a shortcut to get to Cass Avenue from the packed expressway.

At least two major motorcycle crashes have occurred at Cass and South Frontage since 2020.

Schenk said the stoplight would help at Cass and South Frontage; two memorials are nearby. One of the victims was Gina C. Pissano, 31, of Oak Lawn, who collided with a pickup truck, police said. She died shortly afterward.

In 2022, the Darien city government released a report that it said showed the two motorcycle crashes appeared to have been the result of poor judgment.

Six years ago, the council approved the building of a Sterling Bay warehouse near the intersection.

Residents have alleged the warehouse made the intersection more dangerous: Semi-trucks that exit from northbound Interstate 55 onto southbound Cass Avenue must perform three immediate lane changes across Cass to turn left on South Frontage to access the Sterling Bay warehouse.

In response to Schenk, Dan Gombac, the city's municipal services director, said a stoplight was found to be unjustified around the time of the warehouse's approval.

Alderwoman Mary Sullivan, who represents the area in question, agreed with Schenk that South Frontage's traffic has increased a lot because of Interstate 55's congestion.

She noted a DuPage County study to improve traffic in that area of Cass Avenue.

"There are plans in the future," Sullivan said. "Who knows when that will be?"

She said she would continue to communicate concerns with officials at all levels about the issues with North and South Frontage roads.

"On my side, there are cars going through the fence," Sullivan said. "It takes months (for the state) to repair fencing. They are extremely understaffed. It's frustrating because it's a hazard."