Dangerous Intersection In Darien: Officials

DARIEN, IL — Darien officials agreed this week that the intersection of 67th Street and Clarendon Hills has long been a problem. They say it's the site of many crashes, including fatalities.

At Monday's City Council meeting, aldermen spoke about the intersection after a neighbor, Karem Padilla, expressed concern. Just last week, she said, a car went through her front yard and driveway, destroying a retaining wall.

"I wish there was something we could do about that intersection, so many accidents," she said. "My little girls have witnessed so many, and some of them have been fatal."

Ward 2 Alderman Lester Vaughan, who represents the area in question, said the intersection has long been "pretty problematic." The intersection has stop signs at 67th Street, but not Clarendon Hills Road. Vaughan said he had been asking for a four-way stop.

"I know we can't put in a stoplight. It's too expensive to do that, but I think whatever we can do to make this intersection safe, we need to do it."

Mayor Joseph Marchese said that in his 24 years in elective office, officials have discussed the intersection repeatedly. He said his son, who is now in his 40s, had a friend in his youth whose father was killed in a crash at the intersection.

"We've tried a number of solutions to that," the mayor said. "We did a traffic study to look at a traffic light there. We were told it would not be appropriate to put a traffic light because traffic would back up to Plainfield Road and that it would cause other issues."

Dan Gombac, the city's municipal services director, said the stacking of cars at the stop sign would increase traffic for residents on Clarendon Hills Road, especially during rush hour. He said the city learned at one point that it would cost $700,000 for traffic lights at the intersection.

Vaughan said he knew stacking would be a problem, but he said with cars flying down Clarendon Hills Road at 60 mph, neighbors likely would not mind the stacking.

Marchese said the city would look into the issue.