Kids 'Barreling' Out Of Western Springs Tunnel

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – A Western Springs resident asked village trustees last week to undertake safety improvements in light of the new West Underpass.

Trustees seemed agreeable to the request.

The village recently built a pedestrian underpass under the BNSF railroad tracks on the west side of town. On the north side of the tunnel, pedestrians and bicyclists let out near Prospect and Hillgrove avenues.

Taylor Robinson, an engineer who lives on nearby Walnut Street, requested the village make Prospect and Hillgrove a three-way stop.

She said she gathered 30 signatures on a petition for a traffic study.

"All the neighbors I have spoken to so far are more than supportive of a stop sign and are concerned about the speed of traffic on Hillgrove in this area," Robinson said.

She also asked for a crosswalk on the south side of the tunnel, which lets out at Burlington Avenue, across from Spring Rock Park.

"I ask that the trustees expedite this project and look into temporary solutions such as the signage they installed on the Hillgrove side," Robinson said.

Trustee James Tyrrell said he understood Robinson's reasoning.

"At least three times, I've seen kids come barreling out of that tunnel on the north side," he said. "They come right into that street. They don't look. There's no stop sign there. I think most of the drivers there are careful, but there are a lot of construction trucks coming down."

Village President Alice Gallagher said the village had not finished the project by any means.

"There's nothing more important to this board than the safety of our residents and especially our youngest residents, who I imagine will be using this underpass frequently," Gallagher said. "Of course, funding is always a consideration."