4-Way Stop At Elmhurst Intersection Pushed

ELMHURST, IL – An Elmhurst City Council committee may seek a four-way stop at a northside intersection because of a history of crashes.

According to a city memo, the intersection of Michigan Street and Gladys Avenue has seen four correctable crashes in the last 4½ years, including three in the last 20 months.

Now, stop signs are on Gladys.

The memo stated the sight distance is "slightly restricted" at the intersection's northwest corner. That means eastbound Gladys traffic has a harder time seeing southbound Michigan traffic, the memo said.

The number of crashes does not strictly meet a national standard for more stop signs. At the same time, those same standards call for measures to be taken when a driver cannot see conflicting traffic, according to the city memo.

Three of the four crashes involve an eastbound car striking a northbound or southbound car.

"(I)t is believed that the existing (sight) distance restriction at the northwest corner of the intersection could be contributing to eastbound vehicle accidents," the memo said.

The intersection also sees cut-through traffic from a shopping center to the northwest, according to the city.

"Cut-through traffic may lead to less compliance at existing traffic control signage," the memo said.

The city discussed the matter with the shopping center's owner, but acknowledged moving the existing parking lot opening at Gladys, just west of Michigan, is not feasible, the memo said.

In March 2023, Ward 3 aldermen Chris Jensen and Dannee Polomsky, who has since left the council, asked for the city to examine what the intersection needs, suggesting the possibility of a four-way stop.