Local News

Potholes Keep Lake Shore Drive Speed Limit At 40

Annual Rite Of Spring Skipped Over For Now

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Raising the speed limit on Lake Shore Drive – a Chicago rite of spring – will not happen this year. It's simply too dangerous, the city says.

CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports with construction on the Edens Expressway driving commuters to the Drive Monday, even the winter 40 mile per hour speed limit was a pipedream, let alone the summertime 45. And that increased speed limit would be in force now, were it not for the obstacle course of potholes we face every day.

"They'll swallow up your car if you don't pay attention," a motorist said.
"There are many areas where there are pavement imperfections that we felt it prudent to keep the lower speed limit to insure the safety of motorists traveling on that stretch of roadway," explained Brian Steele of the Chicago Department of Transportation.

CBS 2 stopped at one of those pavement imperfections on Lake Shore Drive near Lawrence Avenue, and saw the remains of too many wrecked tires to count, and then watched and heard car after car crash into the crater.

The incident left Chicagoan Tim Toomey's front tire bulging and his rear tire flat.

The city says its trying to fill in the potholes with asphalt but what's really needed is resurfacing areas where the Drive, built back in the 1950s is simply disintegrating. The cost could reach about $5 million. But that's compared to the $42 million the state's spending on the Edens Expressay, which some believe is in a lot better shape.

"That's why we've been working closely with the state on this project, identifying the need and expressing our desire to move forward on this project as soon as possible," Steele said.

The resurfacing project has been under discussion for 1 ½ years now. The Illinois Department of Transportation, with its billion dollar budget, will say only they are trying to come up with a timetable.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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