CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Calling it the most dangerous street in Chicago, a group of West Side business owners and residents wants federal money to clean up a three-mile stretch of Lake Street.
The Westside Safety & Infrastructure Coalition said old CTA girders along the Green Line restrict traffic from Talman to Laramie, scare away business, and breed crime.
John Serritella, owner of Chicago Anodizing Company, said there are problems every day with trucks getting caught or scraping the girders near his building at Lake and Karlov.
"Two hours ago, a 53-footer just tore up its right corner just outside my office," he said.
During a zoom press conference, he said he’s had to stop traffic to help trucks and convince some of his out of state customers to visit his location despite headaches with the street.
Community activist and longtime East Garfield Park resident Annette Britton said pockets of the West Side have been ignored for decades.
"...Wicker Park has blossomed. We have built up whole other communities and we have had not one major development," she said.
Executive Director of the Fulton Market Association Roger Romanelli is leading the push to get $2 billion in the federal infrastructure bill in Congress for safety and infrastructure improvements on the West Side.
"Lake Shore Drive is gorgeous, beautiful, state of the art, 21st century. Lake Street was built in 1896 - 19th century before cars even ran," he said.
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Community activist Cynthia Bednarz said when people asked how her East Garfield Park neighborhood was holding up during riots last summer she said it was fine “because we have no businesses here to loot."
The group asking Congressman Danny Davis to earmark billions in federal spending to widen the CTA girders, add a Western station on the Green Line, and renovate the Metra stop at Kedzie.
The group also wants more security cameras and lighting along the street to in the hopes of lowering crime and bringing more business.