CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Work is expected to begin Monday on the near Northwest Side to make Milwaukee Avenue safer for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Starting Monday, CDOT will begin installing protected bike lanes along Milwaukee Avenue from Western Avenue to California Avenue in the Logan Square neighborhood. According to the city, Milwaukee Avenue is one of the city's most heavily traveled bike routes. It is also a High Crash Corridor as identified by the City's Vision Zero Action Plan.
Over the next couple of weeks, the city will add protected bike lanes along that stretch. The city said the new lanes will separate cyclists from vehicle traffic. There will also be bump outs and crosswalks to better protect pedestrians.
In addition to the protected bike lanes, CDOT will also be announcing additional infrastructure improvements that will clearly separate people biking from car traffic on Milwaukee Avenue. New developments will include the installation of two new crosswalks, 35 new bike racks, and in 2021, a new bus boarding island at Milwaukee and Maplewood.
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The developments are all a part of the City of Chicago’s Vision Zero Action Plan to eliminate traffic fatalities and distribute equitable travel resources through community engagement.
According to the city, traffic safety data indicates two-thirds of all crashes on Milwaukee Avenue involve pedestrians and bikers.
To view the construction plans and learn more about CDOT and the 1st Ward’s community engagement process for this project, please visit www.the1stward.com/pb1.