LOGAN SQUARE — Soon cyclists and drivers will have some separation on Logan Square’s most popular bike route.
The city is installing protected bike lanes along a dangerous stretch of Milwaukee Avenue — from Western to California avenues — beginning next week.
The construction is scheduled to kick off Sept. 14, according to Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st). From there, the bike lanes should take about two weeks to complete, weather permitting, La Spata’s office said.
Plastic curbs and posts from a company called Qwick Kurb will help create the bike lanes.
La Spata’s office said the city is using Qwick Kurb, rather than the typical concrete barriers, for their “cost, flexibility and short timeline for installation.”
City officials chose the Milwaukee Avenue stretch for protected bike lanes because it is considered a “high crash corridor.”
Milwaukee from Western to Sacramento saw 446 crashes from 2014 to 2018, according to Illinois Department of Transportation data.
Of the crashes that resulted in injuries, half involved cyclists. About two-thirds of those crashes involved pedestrians or cyclists.
The city also is making several other improvements to the Milwaukee Avenue stretch to make the roadway safer for cyclists, pedestrians and drivers.
Later this fall, the city plans to build new crosswalks along the stretch, as well as a new bus boarding island at Milwaukee and Maplewood avenues. More than 35 new bike racks will also be installed.
The city also will be eliminating some on-street paid parking spaces on Milwaukee Avenue. The spots will be relocated to nearby streets but no residential permit parking spots will be eliminated, according to La Spata’s office.
La Spata’s office said neighbors with questions or comments should contact the city directly at CDOTbikes@cityofchicago.org. For more information on the project, visit the alderman’s website.
RELATED LINKS:
Dangerous Milwaukee Avenue Stretch In Logan Square To Get Protected Bike Lanes, New Crosswalks
Protected Bike Lanes Could Be Coming To Logan Square Stretch Of Milwaukee Avenue
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