Central Ave to receive construction updates, community gives mixed reaction
Image from the Department of Transportation and Highways (DoTH) website.
By Jorge Martinez
CICERO — Cook County announces a new construction project coming to the south end of Cicero, which plans to revitalize the area starting in the spring,
However, local residents have mixed reactions to the project.
The Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways (DoTH) will begin construction on the Central Avenue Bridge near Morton College and the Stickney Water Plant. The bridge intersects with Pershing Road and crosses the Chicago Sanitary Ship Canal.
During construction, only two of the four lanes running in each direction will remain open. Temporary traffic signals will be installed to minimize traffic delays and congestion, according to a spokesperson for Cook County.
“As a new driver, I think two lanes make driving easier,” said local resident Jasmin Hernandez. She says she’s only now learning how to drive and expressed relief.
Another resident, Maria, expressed concern about possible traffic congestion due to the new construction. As a longtime driver, Maria is hesitant to support more construction in her area.
Other residents were concerned that the project did not have enough community input.
“Our city is reconstructing a bridge in a new era and they are not giving consideration to other environmentally friendly ways of commuting,” said Gaby Pesantez in an email, a Cicero resident and advocate for pedestrian and bicyclist safety.
Opportunities to integrate safety measures are rare, said Pesantez, and require community input on projects of this scale.
Pesantez added that Austin Road and 31st St lack infrastructure for people walking and biking. She cites safety concerns and that by adding safer conditions, the community would see an “increase[d] bicycle traffic.”
“These improvements do not change the function or size of the structure, so community input was not sought during development of the plans,” said Brittany Hill, spokesperson for Cook County, to our questions about community input.
Despite this, Hill says community members can still submit feedback on the official website.
The project will bring necessary repairs to a decaying bridge originally constructed in 1944. The construction includes a replacement of the bridge deck, re-painting the bridge girders, and repairing the steel girders and concrete piers. Construction is expected to end in late 2024.
Image from the Department of Transportation and Highways (DoTH) website.
The project hopes to increase “serviceability to freight movement in the region,” according to the official website.
“DoTH is ensuring these critical improvements are completed this year after the roadway exhibited accelerated deterioration that required emergency repairs last year,” said Hill, in an email to Cicero Independiente.
“We do not anticipate large changes in the traffic volumes during construction, though some may choose an alternate travel route,” wrote Hill.
The project is expected to cost $33.3 million, largely funded by Rebuild Illinois bonds, which is a few million dollars less than a 2011 reconstruction project on the same bridge that spanned over two years.
Image from the Department of Transportation and Highways (DoTH) website.
More updates are still to come. Residents can sign up to receive updates directly here.
Jorge Martinez is a freelance community reporter and contributing reporter at Cicero Independiente.
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