Alderman parks car to block construction project at Wilson, Lamon

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A confrontation erupted over the construction of a digital billboard along the Kennedy Expressway on Chicago's Northwest Side.

Residents in this part of the Jefferson Park neighborhood say navigating construction is nothing new, but a new project to close Wilson at Lamon came as a surprise Monday morning.

"This is just a terrible mistake. It's terrible," said one resident.

"It's really been a traffic nightmare," said another resident.

Work to move infrastructure to close the street and erect a billboard came to a stop after 45th Ward Alderman John Arena parked his car to block the project.

"It feels like Meigs Field in the 45th Ward and I can't stand for that," Ald. Arena said, referring to the airport that former Mayor Daley ordered destroyed by city crews in 2003.

Ald. Arena and residents said they were aware of plans for a digital billboard alongside the Kennedy Expressway, not in the street.

Mike Claffey, spokesman for Chicago's Department of Transportation said: "There is a history of excessive speeding on Lamon and Wilson due to cut-through traffic, and this change is designed to enhance safety."

"Speeding wasn't the issue. And to say you're going to close this for speed bumps, when you could put in very cost-effective speed bumps seems very disingenuous to me," Ald. Arena said.

Some residents said closing the road is an extreme solution to speeding.

"I personally think it's more about the billboard issue, I mean, there's other solutions I think. If that really was the case, can't we put up speed bumps, can't we put up red light cameras. It's just, all of a sudden. I just wish there was other conversations that took place," said Jenny Choe.

"It is absolutely shocking that they just came one day, closed the road, said 'I'm sorry, sir, this road is going to be closed because we want to put a sign that will bring some income to the city," said Luis Cuesta.

"It has also added issues of safety because people can no longer use the street, Lamon, so they're cutting through our alleys, they're cutting through our driveways," said Maureen Cuesta.

After meeting with commissioners from CDOT and the water department Monday afternoon, Ald. Arena said that Wilson will reopen to traffic at Lamon and the billboard project will be put on hold.

Ald. Arena said he was given an apology for the breakdown in communication.