'Major Traffic Issue' At Elmhurst Intersection: Police Chief

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst officials agreed Monday that they needed to take action to make the intersection of North and Maple avenues safer.

But they said they wanted to avoid moving the traffic problem to other intersections.

The city proposes to ban westbound drivers on North Avenue from turning left onto Maple. Such a move must get the state's approval because North is a state highway.

"We have a major traffic issue at North and Maple," Police Chief Michael McLean said at the City Council's public safety committee meeting. "It needs to be addressed."

According to the city, 40 crashes have occurred at Maple and North over the last five years. Another was reported over the weekend.

The vast majority of crashes, officials said, involve westbound drivers turning left onto Maple. Maple is a popular north-south choice for drivers because it crosses the railroad tracks a few blocks to the south.

The city engineer, Ted Sianis, recommended the city also ask the state for permission to put signs banning left turns at Larch and Elm avenues, which are on either side of Maple.

If the city just targeted Maple and North, he said, Larch and Elm may see an extra 100 cars a day.

"That will feel like a lot to those residents, and we'll be back here discussing this," Sianis said.

Committee members agreed the request should involve all three intersections.

So far, Sianis said, the state Department of Transportation has been responsive to the city's questions about Maple and North.