Milwaukee/Grand/Halsted Reversed

Any theories why the traffic light cycle for Milwaukee/Grand/Halsted got reversed? Until Monday it ran counterclockwise like most other three way intersections. Now it goes clockwise and I can't figure out why. It must have something to do with the construction but I don't see how the cycle helps.

Speaking of construction, any news when the mess on Milwaukee will be finished?

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Permalink Reply by blair on October 23, 2013 at 6:16am

Completely threw me off on Monday.  I started to pedal into the intersection when the light before mine turned red - thought I was losing my mind!

Permalink Reply by Cheryl on October 23, 2013 at 7:00am

It's throwing me completely off, and it means catching more reds from there to Kinzie. Which may be why they did it - it seems to reduce the traffic from backing up too much between Hubbard & Kinzie....

Permalink Reply by Bill Savage on October 23, 2013 at 7:39am

Thanks for the heads-up. There are a few other intersections (Lincoln, Wellington and something?) where the cycle is off.  I don't think of it as clockwise or counterclockwise, though: I think it runs EW/NS/ANGLE.  So when I'm on Damen headed towards Irving/Lincoln, or Halsted towards Fullerton/Lincoln, I time my arrival to the light for when Irving or Fullerton turn red.  Nice to know this one is different.  Hope people adjust soon.

Permalink Reply by David P. on October 23, 2013 at 10:24am

Every six-way diagonal I've ever been through in Chicago (until now - this one and one other one the other day, which one I can't remember) has had the lights cycled counterclockwise, and I have always assumed that it was done this way so that cars that push the yellow or run the red are not leaving the intersection as the crossing traffic farthest from them begins moving through it.

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on October 23, 2013 at 3:17pm

The lights are temperature-based. Once it drops below 40°F, they reverse direction.

Permalink Reply by Duppie on October 23, 2013 at 3:51pm

Lincoln/George and Lincoln/Barry are the only other ones that I know of.



David P. said:

Every six-way diagonal I've ever been through in Chicago (until now - this one and one other one the other day, which one I can't remember) has had the lights cycled counterclockwise, and I have always assumed that it was done this way so that cars that push the yellow or run the red are not leaving the intersection as the crossing traffic farthest from them begins moving through it.

Permalink Reply by Kelsey Mesher on October 24, 2013 at 2:38am

Same here (and my friend followed me into the intersection, too!). I'm glad I'm not going crazy! It is a good reminder to not get lazy with the lights...yikes. Ride safe & always judge for yourself guys!

blair said:

Completely threw me off on Monday.  I started to pedal into the intersection when the light before mine turned red - thought I was losing my mind!

Permalink Reply by MFrank on October 24, 2013 at 2:46am

I was surprised there wasn't anything in http://chi.streetsblog.org/ about the light reversal or the construction. 

Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on October 24, 2013 at 5:52am
Construction should be complete in December and full pavement restoration April. This is according to a newsletter sense to nearby residents and businesses.
Permalink Reply by Matt Wolfe on October 24, 2013 at 3:42pm
Ugh. Thanks Steven. December sounds like a long time away dealing with that mess. Last Friday I followed a jaguar with license MARSHA6 inbound. 'Marsha' got really confused when the construction zone ended where the bike lane continues on the right side and the car lane picks back up in the center over the bridge at Ohio. So confused in fact that she split the two and ran over every bollard protecting the bike lane. Thunk-thunk-thunk-thunk... Hilarious given no one was harmed.

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