Chicago's Infamous Wicker Park Six-Corner Finally Gets an Update

A six-way intersection (derisively called "the Crotch") in Chicago's Wicker Park has long been one of the most dangerous intersections in the city. But the corner of Milwaukee, Damon, and North Avenues is getting an update, and the work is almost complete.

"The six-way junction recently got four bike boxes and an extra-wide crosswalk, and tan paint and flexible posts were used to shorten pedestrian crossing distances and close the slip lane at the southeast corner," John Greenfield writes for Streetsblog Chicago. These improvements should go a long way toward protecting pedestrians and bikers in a neighborhood that hosts to bar hoppers, concertgoers, and bike commuters.

"The intersection will get even more people-friendly next year, when CDOT plans to add two new crosswalks between the Flat Iron Building and Flash Taco, and between Starbucks and Walgreens," Greenfield writes. It's one more example of a place with plentiful foot and bike traffic finally owning up to that fact. But some might argue that even more could be done.