THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2006

Seeking Dialog On Western Ave., Traffic Concerns

By DWIGHT ESAU

Journal Reporter

Park Ridge Ald. Jeannie Markech's quest to discuss what she says are traffic problems on Western Avenue may have hit the proverbial wall.

The Park Ridge official has suggested that opening Western between Dempster and Oakton Streets at the Park Ridge-Niles boundary may be a good idea.

Mayor Nicholas Blaise of Niles recently told Mayor Howard Frimark, however, that no, he isn't interested in discussing the matter.

End of discussion?

Maybe not, because Markech wasn't pushing only for opening of Western, just for discussion of problems in the area.

It's on the agenda for tonight's (Wednesday) 7:30 p.m. meeting of the City Council's Public Works Committee at the public works service center.

"The issue isn't over just because Mayor Blaise says it is," Markech said Tuesday. "It's our problem, not his. I plan to ask some questions at tonight's meeting, and we'll see what happens."

Western currently extends south from Dempster about two short blocks to Weeg Way, then dead ends. It extends north from Oakton to Manor Drive. Markech says she has observed heavy traffic at Weeg and Manor, as vehicles turn into local streets and the area frequently becomes congested.

From North Avenue to just south of Weeg Way, Western forms the north-south boundary between Niles and Park Ridge.

One Park Ridge source said this week that opinion on a possible opening of the road is divided among local residents. Many of them reportedly fear opening up the street would bring traffic directly onto Western, she said.

And so the discussion rages. Two parks are located in Park Ridge, on the east side of Western. One of them is heavily used by the Park Ridge Soccer Association for games in the warm months of the year. Soccer parents reportedly say opening Western would aggravate already congested traffic conditions in the area.

In the light of Mayor Blaise's letter, tonight's discussion at the public works meeting may be only a staff report, with no recommendation, a city hall source said.