'Hail Mary': Hinsdale Officials Tackle Traffic Issues

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale trustees on Tuesday considered whether four-way stops are needed at two intersections. And then yield signs entered the discussion.

Trustee Alexis Braden said an intersection near her house on East First Street was dangerous. Nearby Oak Street has yield signs at First.

"I would advocate getting rid of more yield signs," Braden said at a Village Board meeting. "Driving on First Street up to town, it's a Hail Mary that you're not going to get T-boned by someone coming on Oak, and I see it all the time. My neighbors are complaining."

The trustees seemed to agree that a four-way stop was needed at the intersection of Walnut and Elm streets, which is next to Hinsdale Hospital. A few years ago, the local food pantry moved nearby, increasing traffic.

"It's people who come up on that intersection from the north or the south, and they make an assumption based on the nature that it is next to a hospital that it is a four-way stop," Police Chief Brian King said.

The other proposed four-way stop is at Hickory and Lincoln streets.

When Trustee Luke Stifflear presented the proposal, he referred to Trustee Neale Byrnes.

"I see you wincing, Neale. I'm somewhat like you. I'm somewhat hesitant on some of these," Stifflear said. "Every time we put up stops, it increases the speed between those stop signs."

Byrnes expressed concern, but he said he valued the feedback from nearby residents who want the four-way stop.

As he has stated before, Stifflear said the village needs to be careful where it puts stop signs.

"We cannot put up a stop sign every time a resident indicates they want one in front of their house," the trustee said.

Votes on the four-way stops are expected at a later meeting. Both intersections have seen six right-angle crashes over the last three years, according to village records.