South Loop Bike Connection Project Begins

As someone who uses the bike lane on Dearborn and is also frequently walking in Printers Row, the fact that this street improvement project is finally moving forward is music to our ears. 

The intersection of Dearborn and Polk is confusing for all people invovled - car drivers, cyclists and walkers.  Hope these new improvements help with the flow and character of the neighborhood (via Streets Blog Chicago):

On Tuesday, South Loop residents and bike advocates gathered for a community meeting hosted by Ald. Sophia King to discuss plans for long-overdue bike improvements in the neighborhood. During the Chicago Department of Transportation announced that it is starting construction on the bike infrastructure, which was delayed by a year due to initial opposition from King.

Back in August 2017, CDOT presented what were supposed to be final plans for a low-stress bike route from the south end of the Dearborn protected bike lane to Grant Park via Polk Street, Plymouth Court, and 9th Street. The department also planned to add concrete curb protection on the existing Harrison Street protected bike lanes between Desplaines Street and Wabash Avenue. The work was slated to be completed in spring 2018, but it never happened, reportedly due King’s concerns about maximizing car parking.