Stop Cut-Through Traffic In Elmhurst Neighborhood: Officials

ELMHURST, IL – Frustrated drivers heading south on York Street often seek a fast way to avoid the busy intersection with North Avenue, two aldermen say.

They contend that a local neighborhood is worse off for it.

In a memo this week, Ward 3 aldermen Michael Bram and Chris Jensen, who represent northeast Elmhurst, are asking the city to look at ways to solve the problem.

They identified the neighborhood as surrounded by North Avenue, York Street, Interstate 290 and Emroy Avenue.

They said drivers seek a "quicker" way when traffic backs up on York and figure it's easier to enter the neighborhood to go east on North Avenue.

Truckers have done the same, but the city appeared to lessen the problem by putting up "No truck" signs, the aldermen said.

"Neighbors have witnessed vehicles creeping into and moving partially into the street to improve their line of sight and blocking North Ave traffic," the officials said in the memo. "This has also caused issues with neighbors getting to their homes and in/out of their driveways."

They asked the city to consider posting signs that tell drivers on York that no left turns are allowed onto Freemont, Grantley and Columbia avenues from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

They also requested the city to consider signs on Willow Road and Kenilworth Avenue prohibiting drivers from taking lefts onto North Avenue during the same hours.

On Monday, the City Council plans to vote on sending the issue to one of its committees.