Harlem Avenue viaduct may get major makeover

The Harlem Avenue viaduct that links Oak Park, Forest Park and River Forest is not a pretty sight.

[Tom F]

I went to google maps to look up what viaduct you are talking about. I assume you mean the viaduct just south of Lake Street on Harlem. I drive down that stretch of Harlem sometimes when I'm in the area to get to the expressway. I am not sure what town boundaries are there so it was difficult to picture from your article. Next time have your mom or dad proof read your article, I bet they would have caught your POOR description.

[dss]

WOW, two ridiculous comments in a row...

[Anthony Ward Sr]

That intersection is also a major transfer point for Pace and Cta conncetions buses that is.

[Hmm]

That spot is a clusterfrak. You've got a light on either side of the tracks. You can't turn left onto Circle before the tracks if you are going north. Buses stop in front of the CTA stop and block traffic. They really need a left hand turn lane at Circle and a right hand turn lane at South and North Blvds. Take out some of the parking at South and Harlem and put in a right turn lane there. Also, carve out some of the support under the tracks and put in a right turn lane that would turn onto North Blvd. Turning right onto North right now is dangerous. If you get those right turn lanes you can get some traffic movement instead of people being blocked by other people going straight North on Harlem. If they could set back the CTA station on the west side of Harlem they could put in a bus drop of lane, which would stop everyone from being blocked by the bus in the viaduct.

[matt]

I always thought that bridge needed to be updated. It is a perfect spot to do something nice. The traffic there is kind of ridiculous...especially considering North and South Blvd. are also right there to add to the congestion. Even walking through is a hassle trying to cross any of the streets. I wish we didn't have to wait at least another 4 years, though.

[PizzaPizza]

The viaduct, which is owned by the Union Pacific Railroad, was built in the 1920s when railroad tracks were elevated from Chicago to River Forest.

Make the railroad fix it

[tichur]

The viaduct in question has been a problem as long as I can remember. To add to the congestion every year 1 or 2 giant 18 wheelers get stuck. This is a viaduct used by the CTA green line to get to its terminal in Forest Park. What jhasn't been mentioned is METRA. There is a station at Marion, just a short block east of Harlem. It runs on the now UP tracks. This was the first railway to the West from Chicago. It has a long history going back to 1850. I remember a "reconstruction" in the 1960s. It used to worse!

The railroad is responsible but will not throw any money to replace it as long as it's functional to the railroad and complies with the contract made with the state...Harlem Ave is US rt43. Minimum clearance has to be maintained for truck traffic through all viaducts. The imtersection was "updated" a few years ago but I think only paint and a new concrete barrier was added.
Railroads have the reputation for not overspending in any area except rolling stock. Their theory is that, "If it works, don't change it."

Promises have been made again by interested parties that talks are underway but River Forest is balking.

The intersection is bordered to the west of Harlem Ave by Oak Park with the railroad forming the border between River Forest to the north and Forest Park to the south until the next viaduct.