A 'Very Dangerous' La Grange Intersection

LA GRANGE, IL — The intersection of 47th Street and East Avenue is considered "very dangerous," the village's interim police chief said Monday.

Chief Jason Cates, who took the helm in April, said he was "shocked" the intersection is controlled by stops signs, not a traffic signal.

"There's a lot going on at that intersection," Cates told the Village Board. "What makes it even more difficult to get a solid grasp on how dangerous it really is, is that it's three municipalities that are taking traffic crash reports there."

In 2019, La Grange saw a high of 45 accidents at the intersection, he said.

"I can't tell you about how many Brookfield and McCook have experienced," Cates said.

La Grange is on the east side of the intersection, while Brookfield and McCook take up the northeast and southeast sides, respectively.

Village Manager Andrianna Peterson said the state Department of Transportation plans to upgrade the intersection in the next two to five years, mostly likely in the middle or latter portion of that period. The changes will include traffic signals, enhanced pavement markings and pedestrian improvements, she said.

Peterson said the money for the project should not be an issue, given that it's in the state's five-year plan.

Peterson and Cates were responding to questions from Trustee Lou Gale.