Don't Expect Work On Major Elmhurst Junction Anytime Soon

ELMHURST, IL – An Elmhurst alderman said last month he would like to see safety and beautification improvements to a major intersection.

But the city's administration responded that the community shouldn't expect any work to the junction of York Street and Grand Avenue anytime soon.

At a City Council budget meeting last month, Alderman Michael Bram, who represents northeast Elmhurst, said he wants enhancements to the intersection.

For starters, he said, a longer left-turn lane would be a safety improvement. And he said he would like to see beautification on par with Bensensville, which is north of Grand.

"They have the landscaped medians, and it looks a lot nicer," Bram said. "We have patched concrete medians on our side of Grand Avenue on North York."

He said plans were in the works a decade or so ago for Grand and York, but they kept moving off the radar.

He asked the administration to look into the matter.

On Thursday, the city released a memo about York and Grand, noting that DuPage County owns the intersection.

"Any future improvement project at this intersection would require substantial planning, coordination, and resources due to several factors, including the high traffic volumes, potential property acquisition requirements, and right-of-way ownership considerations," the acting city manager, Kent Johnson, said in the memo.

Any plan must go through DuPage County for review and permitting.

Johnson said the process to improve Butterfield Road and York Street on the south end of town is an example of how long it takes.

In 2017, Elmhurst started the project's engineering, and it has yet to advance to construction.

"This example illustrates the complexity and long-term commitment typically associated with major intersection improvement projects," Johnson said.

He suggested aldermen present a formal request for York and Grand, so the city can fully evaluate it.