Skip to Content
Streetsblog Chicago home
Streetsblog Chicago home
Log In
Chicago

Eyes on the Street: CDOT Restores Removed Crosswalk to Millennium Park

3:00 PM CDT on May 13, 2014

New crosswalk markings on the north side of Washington Street at Michigan Avenue. Photo: Michelle Stenzel

During the Daley administration, many marked crosswalks at busy downtown intersections disappeared in an attempt to speed up auto traffic. These missing crosswalks confused pedestrians, led to overcrowding at remaining crossings, and often doubled the time it took to get from one corner to the other. Previous transportation commissioner Gabe Klein restored the most high-profile of these missing crosswalks, the Queen's Landing crosswalk over Lake Shore Drive between Buckingham Fountain and Lake Michigan.

CDOT has nearly finished restoration of another removed crosswalk, across Michigan Avenue at the north side of Washington Street. Work began in October of last year, while Klein was still in office, with the creation of curb ramps on either side of Michigan, then paused during the winter before resuming this month with a new zebra-striped crosswalk.

Michelle Stenzel sent these photos, showing that people are already using the crosswalk even though the signals haven't been turned on. The walkway is rather narrow, given the large summertime crowds who cross here to reach Millennium Park and northbound Michigan Avenue buses.

We anxiously await whether CDOT will decide to restore the removed crosswalk on the south side of Randolph Street, one block north of here.

People walk across Michigan Avenue, even though the pedestrian signal hasn't been turned on. Photo: Michelle Stenzel

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Chicago

“Please sir, we want some more more”: A request to extend the Dickens Greenway to the Lakefront Trail

Software engineer Nikolas Gamarra asks Ald. Knudsen to expand the Dickens route, as well as make bike improvements to Wells Street and Lincoln Avenue.

March 16, 2024

Transit advocates weigh in on the CTA’s Refresh & Renew program

Advocates say the program to occasionally deep-clean 'L' stations is nice, but it would be great if the agency put more effort into keeping train stops sanitary all the time.

March 14, 2024
See all posts