“Are we waiting for someone to die?” That’s what Irving Park residents are asking, again, after years of begging the city to fix a dangerous intersection that’s been the site of near-misses, fender benders, and community-wide fear. The "Six Corners" of North Cicero Avenue, North Milwaukee Avenue, and Irving Park Road are both confusing and a ticking time bomb. Chicagoans are done waiting for the City of Chicago to take the threats to vulnerable roadway users seriously.
This isn’t about a minor traffic hiccup; it’s about the pedestrians, and children trying to get across the Six Corners without risking their lives. The issue is about a community that has been ignored by the very people elected to protect the city's residents.
What’s Happening At This Intersection?
Walk up to the intersection of Irving Park, Cicero and Milwaukee, and you’ll see a mess of crisscrossing lanes, odd angles, and zero clarity. Drivers don’t know who has the right of way, pedestrians don’t know when it’s safe to cross, and everyone’s left hoping they don’t get hit.
This stretch in the Irving Park neighborhood is a nightmare for anyone not inside a fast-moving vehicle. There are poorly marked crosswalks, erratic traffic flow, and motor vehicles speeding through as if the rules don’t apply. It’s the kind of intersection you hold your breath to cross, and not because you’re jaywalking, but because you’re just trying to survive.
How Many Crashes Have Already Happened Here?
Residents say crashes are so common at this intersection that they’ve lost count. While the city might not have published updated stats, the community doesn’t need a spreadsheet to tell them what they already know. There are constant traffic accidents. People hear the screech of brakes, the crunch of metal, and the cries for help far too often.
Even when there isn’t a collision, there’s often a close call, and it’s only a matter of time before someone is killed. As a result, residents are asking the same question: why hasn’t the city done anything? This neighborhood has spoken at community meetings, flooded 311 with complaints, signed petitions, and organized safety walks to call attention to the risk.
Some residents have even taken matters into their own hands by painting makeshift signs and placing cones in hopes of slowing traffic down. But instead of solutions, they’ve gotten silence. Meanwhile, the danger grows.
Why Is The City Dragging Its Feet?
Chicago officials talk about data, planning cycles, funding, and feasibility studies. What they don not talk about is urgency. What they don’t seem to grasp is that this is not a theoretical problem; it is a real one, unfolding every day.
Other intersections in Chicago have received upgrades from the Chicago Department of Transportation like new crosswalks, signals, and traffic-calming measures. So why not here? What is the hold-up when the risk is this obvious? Is it because this is just another working-class neighborhood that is not loud enough or wealthy enough to matter? The people of Irving Park aren’t asking for luxury. They’re asking for safety, and the longer the city delays, the more it looks like neglect.
What Needs To Be Done Immediately?
This intersection doesn’t need another study. It needs immediate action, such as:
- Install a traffic light with clear pedestrian signals.
- Repaint and relocate crosswalks to be more visible and aligned with natural foot traffic.
- Place speed bumps or raised intersections to force cars to slow down.
- Add curb extensions to reduce crossing distance and improve line of sight.
- Increase enforcement to stop reckless driving, whether by officers or red light cameras.
These are not unique, expensive nor radical solutions. They are basic public safety upgrades and the kind of things that could prevent the next serious injury or death.
What Should I Do If I'm Hurt At A Dangerous Intersection?
If you have been injured at the Six Corners intersection or any other crossing in Chicago, you have legal options. That includes holding the negligent driver accountable for failing to uphold their duty of care. Here’s what to do if you’re injured:
- Get medical attention immediately and follow all treatment plans.
- Report the crash to police and describe the unsafe conditions.
- Take photos or videos of the intersection, signage, traffic flow, and injuries (if safe to do so).
- Talk to witnesses. Get names, numbers, and recorded statements if possible.
- Contact a Chicago pedestrian accident lawyer who understands city liability and intersection-related claims.
Insurance companies often try to keep their costs down. A skilled Chicago pedestrian accident attorney can investigate the area’s safety history, prove negligence, and help you demand accountability for your injuries.
Our Attorneys Fight For Chicago's Injured
If you were hit by a car while walking in Chicago or the surrounding suburbs, get the aggressive legal representation you deserve. The pedestrian accident lawyers at Keating Law Offices, P.C. do not play games with insurance companies. Our attorneys hold reckless drivers accountable, build tough cases that win, and fight tooth and nail for every dollar our clients are owed. When you have been injured, you have already been through enough. It is time to put Keating Law's experienced pedestrian accident attorneys in your corner so we can fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
If you’re ready to take the first step toward justice, give us a call at 833-CALL-KLO or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
"Thank you so much for everything you did in the past year and a half and for not ever giving up on my case. I’ve never interacted with a lawyer before, but now you’ve set the bar really high if I ever have to see one again.” - A.Z., ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
