Champaign residents protest IDOT’s proposed changes to Prospect Avenue

Neighbors in Champaign are speaking out against the Illinois Department of Transportation's (IDOT) proposed changes to Prospect Avenue. Some residents have tied red ribbons around trees, while others have put up a 35-foot sign reading "Future Site of the ‘Suicide’ Bike Path" to raise awareness of the potential impact of the project. The proposed plan, which could affect a one-mile stretch between Bradley and Springfield Avenues, includes the addition of a bike lane and changes to traffic patterns.

Associated Pressmetrocreativeconnection.comNeighbors in Champaign are speaking out against the Illinois Department of Transportation's proposed changes to Prospect Avenue.

CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – Neighbors in Champaign are speaking out against the Illinois Department of Transportation’s (IDOT) proposed changes to Prospect Avenue. Some residents have tied red ribbons around trees, while others have put up a 35-foot sign reading “Future Site of the ‘Suicide’ Bike Path” to raise awareness of the potential impact of the project. The proposed plan, which could affect a one-mile stretch between Bradley and Springfield Avenues, includes the addition of a bike lane and changes to traffic patterns.

IDOT had previously hosted a meeting last summer to gather community feedback on the proposal, which also calls for widening the road and reconfiguring lanes. Currently, Prospect Avenue between Springfield and Bradley Avenues consists of four lanes with 9 to 10-foot wide lanes. IDOT has identified this section of the road as a frequent site for rear-end accidents due to the lack of a dedicated left-turn lane. To address these issues, the proposed project will reduce the four lanes to two and add a two-way left-turn lane, which IDOT believes will help mitigate accidents caused by left-turning traffic. Additionally, the redesign will include bike lanes on both sides of the street and upgraded sidewalk ramps at each intersection to meet current ADA standards. While the plan may require removing some trees, IDOT has stated that it will replace any trees impacted by the project.

While some residents are not in favor of the changes, others see the proposal as an improvement. One of the concerns involves the removal of trees and the proposed widening of the road, because some residents believe the changes could create more problems, especially when it comes to traffic flow. Other residents are more optimistic about the project. They believe that adding bike lanes and reducing the number of travel lanes will improve safety for both bicyclists and drivers.

Construction for the $15.5 million safety improvement project is set to begin this summer, and may take up to two years to complete, depending on various factors. The goal of the project is to make Prospect Avenue safer and more accessible for all who use it, for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.