- Font Size:
- Default font size
- Larger font size
BY JOE CARLSON
jcarlson@nwitimes.com
219.933.4174 | Thursday, March 30, 2006 | (No comments posted.)
Officials in Calumet City are weighing their legal options to see whether the courts can be used to stop the construction of a traffic barrier along State Line Road.
Two Calumet City officials said Wednesday they had recently been made aware of a case in the 1990s in which Evanston officials forced a Chicago alderman to tear down a barrier down the center of Howard Street between the two cities.
Chicago Alderman Bernard Stone had a wall built between the cities in 1993, fearing increased traffic from a shopping mall built along the city border in Evanston.
Cook County Circuit Judge Albert Green eventually ordered the barrier removed, saying Evanston residents were entitled to unfettered and unimpeded use of Howard Street, news accounts of the ruling said.
Calumet City Alderman Nick Manousopoulos, whose ward includes State Line Road, confirmed that Calumet City officials are weighing their legal options regarding the traffic barrier that Hammond is supposed to start building in early April.
"Everything came into light when we saw what happened in Evanston, and where they had to take down the wall," Manousopoulos said. "Hate to do it, but we have to what's best for Calumet City and its residents."
Hammond Engineer Stanley Dostatni, who has overseen the barrier's design and voted for it on the city public works board, said Calumet City officials should consider the traffic barriers they have built along the state line.
"So are they going to open up all those cul-de-sacs they've built over the years?" Dostatni said "What's fair is fair."
Hammond officials propose to build an 8-inch curb to cut off cross-state traffic between the cities in the 10 blocks south of the road known as 165th Street in Hammond and River Oaks Drive in Calumet City.
Neighborhood proponents say their quiet residential streets have been turned into dangerous thoroughfares by cross-border drivers cutting through to avoid the congested main routes designed to handle such traffic.
Opponents say the $637,000 project is too expensive when the city is in a tax crisis, and that the project will set a bad precedent to erect traffic barriers whenever a neighborhood group wants one built.
Calumet City officials have steadfastly opposed Hammond's project. Since part of the northbound lane of State Line Road is in Illinois, the opposition has forced Hammond officials to plan on cutting down some boulevard trees and taking slices of private property for the project.
Calumet City spokesman Eric Schneider confirmed that city officials had been made aware of the Evanston case by a Hammond resident. Any legal action would need a motion from City Council, which meets again April 12.
"As of now, we're not taking any legal action against Hammond," Schneider said.
"There certainly are a number of Hammond residents who would consider joining a lawsuit with Calumet City," said Rick Bryant, an opponent of the project who lives in the affected area in Hammond. "With the possibility of a legal challenge, the city might wish to proceed with caution."
Back to story No comments posted.
- It wasn't clear, concise or focused on the topic in the story.
- It was a personal attack, vulgar, explicit or degrading, used actual or implied profanity or contained potentially libelous statements.
- It accused someone of being guilty of a crime.
- It promoted violence or illegal acts.
- It contained telephone numbers or street addresses, or e-mail addresses and links to Web sites other than nwi.com or government agencies.
In no way do these comments represent the views of The Times or Lee Enterprises.
Passionate views, pointed criticism and critical thinking are welcome. Name-calling, crude and profane language and personal abuse are not welcome.
Reader comments will not be edited - they will be approved or declined. They may be used in the print edition of the newspaper.
If you feel a posted comment has violated these guidelines, please email our New Media team the commenter's name, the comment and a link to the article.
For more information please read our Terms of Service.