Salem Police Chief Kyle Ambuehl and Salem Fire Chief Jim Cerny have requested the Illinois Department of Transportation to make changes in the Alternative I-57 Route that funnels traffic into downtown Salem on Route 37.
Ambuehl says the major issue is the intersection of Main and Broadway.
“This is actually an alternate route. But the turn the semi’s are making turning off South Broadway onto West Main it’s hard for them to make that turn. If at a minimum we would like for them to go north on 37 weather it be Kinoka Road or hit 185 up in Farina. We are just trying to alleviate some of that turn. I don’t know how much success we are going to have in getting the traffic off South Broadway, we may just have to deal with that, but if we can get it to where it goes straight through town I think that will help.”
Ambuehl says the problem is compounded because of the short left turn signal on South Broadway at Main and semi truck drivers who straddle the main and turn lanes in order to make the turn that don’t trip the sensors to give them a green left turn light. As a result, sometimes traffic is backing up to the south side of town until action is taken to clear the backup.
Ambuehl also plans to meet with Salem Public Works to see if it is possible to eliminate the first parking space on the north side of the 100 block of West Main to give the trucks more room to make the turns.
Ambuehl notes they will have to battle the additional traffic through November when the reconstruction of the northbound lanes of I-57 is completed. More traffic through Salem is also expected next year when the southbound lanes are reconstructed.
Cerny said the fire department’s concern is the backed-up traffic on South Broadway blocks them from leaving the fire station quickly in the event of a fire call.
Both say IDOT officials are listening to their concerns, but so far no changes have been approved.
