Elmhurst Area May See More Stop Signs

ELMHURST, IL – A traffic consultant is recommending more stop signs in a north-central Elmhurst neighborhood.

The 40-block neighborhood is bound by North Avenue to the north, Route 83 to the west, First Street to the south and York Street to the east. This area includes a quarry.

In a new traffic study, the consultant, Rosemont-based KLOA, suggests the city convert the intersection of Second Street and Highland Avenue, northeast of the quarry, to a four-way stop. Now, stop signs are on Second.

Officials said the four-way stop is recommended because of "heavy landscaping" on one corner.

The study also recommends one-way stops at T-intersections along First and Third streets. Now, they have no controls.

It further suggests converting the four-way stop at Third Street and Glenview Avenue to a two-way, with the signs on Third. Also, the yield signs at Oak and Third streets would be replaced with stop signs.

In the neighborhood in question, the study found drivers often exceed speed limits on West Avenue and First and Third streets.

"West is a great example," Alderman Mike Brennan said at Monday's public safety committee meeting. "That's more than locals. That's people coming from other communities turning right off of North Avenue."

The city is conducting neighborhood-by-neighborhood traffic studies. The general aims are to replace yield signs with stop signs and end the practice of uncontrolled intersections – those without yield or stop signs.

Next month, a KLOA engineer is expected to speak to the public safety committee.

A traffic consultant recommended making Second Street and Highland Avenue a four-way stop. Now, it is a two-way stop. (Google Maps)