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Permalink Reply by John Greenfield on June 10, 2019 at 4:13am

The news footage shows that this happened just south of the Diversey bridge. Checking with CPD for more details. 

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Permalink Reply by John Greenfield on June 10, 2019 at 4:22am

Tribune is reporting that the driver was the person who was injured. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-met-accident-lake-s...

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Permalink Reply by Sean Newby on June 10, 2019 at 4:19am

This is the same section where a car hit a lightpole in April; the Armco barriers had not been repaired since.

I think we should be asking CDOT if the barrier in that area was compromised or weakened; and why it had not been repaired or replaced (especially in a section so close to a heavily trafficked pedestrian and bicycle route).

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Permalink Reply by Michelle S on June 10, 2019 at 5:51am

The entire section of the Trail north of the Diversey bridge has no guardrails of any kind, which seems dangerous, given that drivers usually far exceed the MPH speed limit, and given that the new separated bike lanes are even closer to LSD. LSD is an IDOT-jurisdiction street. 

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Permalink Reply by Phillip Hutchinson on June 10, 2019 at 7:14am

Totally agree and I continue to be surprised that IDOT doesn't install a barrier along the entire length of NLSD.  I'm also surprised that there are not more barriers to prevent motorists from driving cars onto the trail (either accidentally or intentionally). 

Here are a few excerpts from the NLSD project study "purpose and need" statement that back up your assessment that motorists speed and crash their cars with alarming regularity on Lake Shore Drive:

"Based on 2007‐2011 crash data, in excess of 5,800 vehicular crashes have occurred along the entire length of the Outer Drive and at its junction intersections over the five‐year study period which included 1,005 injury and 17 fatal crashes. NLSD averages 3 crashes per day."

"Within its state‐wide peer group of urban multi‐lane divided highways, NLSD accounted
for six out of the top 10 high crash sections within the entire state"

"Vehicle speed studies conducted at twelve locations along the length of NLSD for a 48‐hour weekday period showed non‐compliance rates with the posted speed limit (40 mph at the time of the study) of 78% in the southbound direction and 95% in the northbound direction, with most compliance occurring only during periods of heavy congestion. Within the highest speed section of NLSD, nearly 9% of the 48‐hour traffic volume exceeded the posted speed limit by 30 mph or more."

http://www.northlakeshoredrive.org/pdf/2014-12-19_PurposeAndNeed_Po...

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Permalink Reply by Michelle S on June 10, 2019 at 8:45am

Yes, thanks, Philip. The current design of LSD is more like an expressway, and not like the boulevard that this street was determined to be and continues to be designated as to this day. IDOT's preliminary drawings for the re-design have several beneficial aspects, but they still sorely lack in design changes that would slow down driving speeds. In fact, many of the proposed elements would make drivers speed even more, including straightening the S-curve at Oak Street and leaving the car travel lanes at their current highway-like width. 

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Permalink Reply by Jeremy on June 10, 2019 at 8:52am

I don't know how Pritzker and Lightfoot feel about the North Lake Shore Drive design proposals, but I would like to see them get behind the idea of removing at least two lanes. Add better barrier protection from autos and expand the trail even more.

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Permalink Reply by Tricolor on June 10, 2019 at 10:38am

I saw it this morning. The car almost ended up in the waterway to Diversey Harbor. And it's next to a little shrine that went up a few weeks ago after a crash took out one of the art deco bridge markers.

A taller, more robust barrier along the drive is definitely needed. The armco along there is pretty low and probably too old as well. It's designed to take an oblique blow but cars seem to either be going through or over it..

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Permalink Reply by Mark on June 11, 2019 at 8:55am

Here's the NBC5 coverage.  I was fortunate to ride through 20 minutes before this happened.  Also came upon the interview in progress on my way home.  That's me at 1:17!

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