Worst Street in Chicago Contest?

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Permalink Reply by Crazy David 84 Furlongs on April 23, 2013 at 10:02am

I used to live near Courtland/Ashland/Elston.   Ashland under the railroad viaduct was terrible.   They would repave Ashland and never touch it.   A number of us called to complain.  It was explained that due to the height (or lack thereof) of the viaduct and the nature of the signs, any repaving job could NOT reduce the clearance at all.  Apparently the fear was that some truck that used to fit would take the viaduct at high speed and hit it.  And then would sue since the truck always used to clear.   And because the liability would be so severe for the City and the contractor if the repaving job did reduce the clearance, no one was willing to repave those areas.   Now someone eventually did agree to repave that particular intersection, but that may be the reason.

peter moorman said:

I think it might be an issue that the machinery they use for repaving will not fit under these seperated crossings.

The last 4 crossings on Lake St before  Oak Park (excluding Austin Ave)are all in similar condition and have old pavers exposed beneath the asphalt.

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Permalink Reply by Nancy L. Fagin on April 26, 2013 at 9:58am

Walton between Ashland and Noble. Was there open warfare on this street?

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Permalink Reply by Chris Weber on April 26, 2013 at 10:56am

This a great thread. Maybe we should make this an official contest--present a certificate to the alderman of the "winning" street, etc. I am a freelance journalist and could write an article about it. Might shame the city into doing something.

Just an idea.

Chris 

christopherweberjournalist at gmail

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on April 26, 2013 at 11:04am

I like the booby prize idea.  ;)

Chris Weber said:

This a great thread. Maybe we should make this an official contest--present a certificate to the alderman of the "winning" street, etc. I am a freelance journalist and could write an article about it. Might shame the city into doing something.

Just an idea.

Chris 

christopherweberjournalist at gmail

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Permalink Reply by Crazy David 84 Furlongs on April 26, 2013 at 1:28pm

The contest is a great idea.  That being said, I think it has at least three classes.

1.  Worst Street (irrespective of use or utility)

2.  Worst Minor Street (one with some use or utility, but not necessarily a main road.. like Bryn Mawr West of Pulaski)

3.  Worst Important Street (Milwaukee, Cumberland)

4.  Worst Pavement -- Minor

5.  Worst Pavement - Important

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Permalink Reply by Nancy L. Fagin on April 26, 2013 at 10:31pm

There's a book called, Big Time: American Tall-Tale Postcards (by Hal Morgan).  Cowboys riding jackrabbits, giant tomatoes on flat cars, etc.  But my favorite is the Volkwagen beetle (toy) in a pothole.  Potholes can be an art form with depth indicators:

yellow rubber duckies (shallow)

plastic dinosaurs (down to the gravel)

cardboard cutouts of the Titanic (instant death),

Many thanks - Nancy Fagin

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Permalink Reply by Juan Primo on April 27, 2013 at 8:29am

Worst Pavement - In Which We're All Losers!

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