Traffic Light? Clarendon Hills Officials Mum

HINSDALE, IL – Clarendon Hills officials have avoided the topic of whether a traffic light is needed at 55th Street and Western Avenue.

At the same time, the traffic light has come up in the debate over a proposed Dunkin' Donuts at the intersection.

At a zoning board meeting last month, a member asked about the status of a traffic light.

Jonathan Mendel, the village's community development director, gave a brief response.

"It's not part of this discussion, and there's no movement on a policy level either at the administration or by the Village Board," Mendel said.

The developer, Hinsdale-based KrohVan LLC, is suggesting a traffic light at Western and 55th, next to the proposed Dunkin' Donuts. This would be to avoid "massive delays" on Western, according to a traffic study.

The traffic light would be to maintain "safe and efficient" access to the proposed development, the study said.

In an email to the village, Andrew Hess, a traffic engineer hired by KrohVan, suggested the intersection traffic be considered separate.

"Drive-thru or not, vehicles will enter the site and pass through the intersection," Hess said.

Hess said the only potential impact of the drive-thru on the intersection is if the traffic backs up, which he considered highly unlikely.

DuPage County would have a role in a traffic light at the intersection because 55th is a county road.