'Wild West' Elmhurst Intersection Slated For Overhaul: Officials

ELMHURST, IL – An official on Tuesday compared a five-legged intersection in Elmhurst to the "Wild West," especially during afternoon shift changes.

Controlled by stop signs, the five legs of the intersection involve Riverside Drive, Monroe Street and Frontage Road. It is next to the Route 83 corridor, where there is a traffic light. Across the way in Villa Park is Walmart.

The city has received $2.6 million from the state for a project to improve the intersection. Given the state's guidelines, it would be five years at the earliest that construction could start, officials said.

The intersection has been rated as "level service of F," meaning traffic flow breakdowns occur, resulting in delays.

"Many businesses in that area really get jammed up and have long delays approaching this stoplight from the east side of 83 at certain times of day," City Engineer Kent Johnson told the City Council's public works committee.

The city is considering moving the intersection of Frontage, Monroe and Riverside several hundred feet away from Route 83. That would make it a four-legged intersection.

"That will allow cars to queue up for the light and not be competing in the Wild West of the intersection at 3:30 (p.m.) every day when lots of businesses let out a shift," Johnson said. "It's been that way for decades."

He said the city was confident it could get more outside money for the project. Officials are also looking to team up with Villa Park, which has nearby businesses and residents who use the intersection daily.

Alderman Mike Brennan said the project would be a good solution for a problematic intersection.