La Grange Complaints Yield Road Closure Plan

LA GRANGE, IL – The state plans to block northbound traffic on East Avenue to alleviate traffic in La Grange neighborhoods, an official said Monday.

That traffic has increased after the Illinois Department of Transportation started a project at East Avenue and 47th Street.

At a Village Board meeting, Village President Mark Kuchler announced the state would close northbound traffic on East Avenue, from Plainfield Road to 49th Street.

But to make that happen, re-striping must take place, which needs a temperature of at least 40 degrees, Kuchler said. A big snowstorm is expected Wednesday.

Officials from La Grange and Cook County had pushed for the closure.

"The village is pleased that our partners at IDOT have agreed to this improvement, and staff and I and the board will be working closely with them to ensure that it's striped as soon as possible," Kuchler said.

This change, officials hope, will stop drivers from taking unofficial detours through La Grange's residential neighborhoods.

Kuchler also revealed the state project at East and 47th will pause from May to December – the reverse of most construction timelines.

"The village is working with IDOT to really figure out how that intersection will be left for those six, seven, eight months," he said.

According to the state, a traffic light is coming to 47th and East as part of an $18 million project to improve the intersection. The work is expected to last two years.