CHICAGO (WLS) — A quiet neighborhood has now been shaken by the sound of big rigs all because of the construction project on the Kennedy Expressway.
The ABC7 I-Team is investigating the safety concerns of semi-trucks barreling down a residential street where kids play and families walk their dogs.
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They’re not just occasional trucks. Residents in the Old Irving Park neighborhood said they’re seeing convoys of big rigs.
“It’s a significant safety issue… and we have pedestrians walking,” said local resident Linda Fay. “We still have people on foot and vehicles parked on the street… this is the only part of Keeler within the whole city that’s two-way.”
“My dog and I have almost been hit several times,” shared resident Jean Baptiste. “The trucks are so massive that once a large truck is on Keeler, it effectively becomes a one-lane road… They take up the entire width.”
The local community does not hold the truck drivers responsible. Instead, they attribute the risk to the ongoing Kennedy Expressway construction, which is compelling truck drivers to navigate a hazardous detour. Residents are advocating for improved signage.
Residents are also worried about breathing the diesel fuel fumes, and about damage caused by the semis driving on the small road.
The neighbors said the trucks have always gotten off the Keeler/Irving Park exit, and then would get back on the northbound Kennedy Expressway to get to the Edens Expressway. But now, because the entrance ramp is closed due to construction, they can no longer return to the expressway. They now drive through the otherwise quiet Keeler Avenue.
“We wish they would just put the correct signage up,” resident Alice Muncaster said.
There are detour signs around the neighborhood, but residents say those don’t help. There’s also a “no trucks over 5 tons” sign on Keeler, but neighbors say by the time the trucks see it, they have little choice but to drive though. Neighbors told ABC7 they’ve contacted city and state officials and have not gotten answers or results.
A number of times my dog and I almost got ran over… the trucks are so large… They basically occupy the entire space.
“It’s disrupting my life,” Fay said. “I want to see the trucks not come down here all the time.”
So the I-Team reached out to area leaders and found that the Illinois Department of Transportation holds most of the responsibility because of the construction on the Kennedy. IDOT SAYS:
IDOT said, “We take these issues very seriously. We have been out in the neighborhood and have met with local officials and residents to discuss the best places within the corridor to place additional signage to alert the public.”
After the I-Team got involved, IDOT put an orange “NO TRUCKS” sign on the Keeler Avenue/Irving Park Road exit sign, which will hopefully stop trucks from getting off the exit and taking that failed shortcut.
IDOT also added a digital sign before the Keeler exit, prohibiting trucks on Keeler and telling them to use the Addison Street exit if they are trying to reenter the northbound Kennedy to access the Edens.
“Right now it’s the hazard,” Baptiste said. “And as you can see, you have one big semi going one way, just imagine when you have two of them coming the same directions.”
IDOT also said it is having conversations with the Chicago Department of Transportation and monitoring the situation.
CDOT said it will work with local alderpeople to address concerns and look at opportunities for additional signage.
Neighbors said so far there has not been a huge difference in the traffic. They want more signs and enforcement.
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