Elmhurst Deems Intersection Crash-Prone: Memo

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst officials are responding to a series of crashes at an intersection in the northeastern part of town.

Three crashes occurred at Belden Avenue and Michigan Street over two weeks, according to a city memo. All three were considered "correctable," meaning they could have been corrected.

Each crash was caused by a driver not observing the yield signs on Michigan Street, the city said.

Police, area aldermen and residents wanted something done. The city is now proposing to replace the yield signs with stop signs.

The city said it consulted its traffic consultant, who recommended that the city also add signs reading, "Cross Traffic Does Not Stop." City officials agreed with that idea.

Replacing the yield signs is in line with a policy that the City Council approved in early 2023.

"That policy was not meant to create change immediately but rather provide guidance as the City rolled out the Neighborhood Traffic Study program throughout the entire City," this week's memo said.

After that policy change, the memo said, the city decided it would only replace yield signs as part of neighborhood studies or if the number of crashes warranted it.

On Tuesday, the council's public safety committee is expected to vote on the proposal to replace the signs at Michigan and Belden. The matter would then go to the full council.