The busy intersection of Clark and Devon will be getting a new streetscape design to improve pedestrian safety, enhance traffic flow and help beautify the area. The design will cover a two block span from Devon to Arthur along Clark Street.

According to Alderman Patrick O’Connor, he ha been working on plans with Alderman Harry Osterman for the past year after a few Rogers Park business organizations expressed desire for the work. The heavily traveled six lane intersection; which allows people to travel between the Rogers Park, Edgewater and West Ridge neighborhoods, was in need of a safer and more functional design.

With the funding already complete, the streetscape will cost around $4 million to complete and most of the money will be covered by TIF funds. Residents can expect a redesigned CTA turn around station, new street and pedestrian lighting, reconfiguration and landscaping at the public parking lot, new sidewalk and curbs, street resurfacing and crosswalks, new trees and site furniture. They are also planning community identifiers to welcome people into the Rogers Park and Edgewater neighborhoods.

“First and foremost, the design will make more appealing an area intersection that has not necessarily been the best,” said Alderman O’Connor. “It will also help improve the traffic flow because the CTA turn around will function a little differently and will provide a new median which will make the crossing safer. There will also be a new connection to Schreiber Park which will be a good thing for people.”

They are also in the design phase for adding bike lanes on Devon Ave. headed towards Ridge Ave. Schreiber Park, which has already completed a two-stage redevelopment recently, could see a final third stage of upgrades in the near future but is not part of the planned Clark/Devon streetscape.

The Alderman also hopes that the new design with improved street lighting will help create economic development to the area. He said, “We are hoping that it will spur some private investment into the area. The project design is currently underway and should be completed in 2019 and then we will have it out to bid. If we can get started on it quickly, we are hoping construction begins in 2020.”