In the late 1970s, a proposed North-South expressway in Chicago faced fierce opposition, preventing the displacement of thousands of homes and businesses.
Now, nearly fifty years later, a community initiative is asking for a transformation of the very land that was aimed for that expressway into a bike trail that enhances connectivity on the Northwest Side.
The suggested Crosstown Trail aims to run approximately 3.2 miles from near West Montrose and North Knox avenues to near West Cortland Street and North Kilbourn Avenue.
The pathway would parallel an existing Union Pacific freight line situated next to North Kenton Avenue, utilizing raised berms and crossing under ten existing bridges.
This trail would connect various neighborhoods including Old Irving Park, Irving Park, Portage Park, Kilbourn Park, Belmont Cragin, and Hermosa.
It aims to link The 606 with the North Branch Trail and the proposed Weber Spur trail.
Conceived by local residents George Witchek and Jim Franke, the Friends of the Crosstown Trail emerged early this year, although the vision for a bike trail has been in development for years.
Witchek emphasized the excitement surrounding the trail, stating, “What really gets people excited about the trail is all the connections.
We tell people it would connect Bucktown to the Botanic Gardens, which would be 35 miles of trail with minimal car interactions.”
The original Crosstown Expressway project was part of architect Daniel Burnham’s 1909 plan for Chicago.
Plans for this expansive 22-mile highway gained momentum in the 1960s under the leadership of former Mayor Richard J. Daley.
The intended route would have progressed from the Kennedy-Edens junction to the Eisenhower Expressway and then further southeast to the Dan Ryan Expressway, displacing a notable number of residents and businesses along the way.
According to estimates from the Illinois Department of Transportation, the project would have displaced approximately 33,177 residents and led to the loss of 2,103 businesses.
Faced with this looming threat, neighbors within the proposed path of the expressway united to oppose the project, successfully halting it in 1979.
The federal funding previously set aside for the expressway, exceeding $2 billion, was redirected to benefit 15 other transportation projects across the Chicago area.
Historical accounts highlight the creative and resolute efforts of the community members who protested the expressway’s construction.
In a particularly memorable protest, when the public works commissioner, Milton Pikarsky, avoided discussions with the residents, they created wanted posters featuring his image and brought a resident’s pet duck to symbolize their frustrations with his avoidance of questions.
Repeated proposals to revive the expressway surfaced over the years, including a toll road suggestion by former House Speaker Michael Madigan in 2007, although none moved forward.
Franke highlighted, “The community stopped the expressway. Only the community can bring the trail to life.”
The Friends of the Crosstown Trail, which now sports a logo of a duck riding a bike—a nod to their creative protests—recently launched a website and petition to garner support for their cause.
They are committed to gathering public feedback throughout the next year, starting with their first community meeting with the Old Irving Park Association last month.
Franke indicated plans for additional meetings with various neighborhood groups in the upcoming summer and fall months.
Witchek and Franke both have shared their personal experiences prior to moving to Old Irving Park, noting that they previously lived near the transformative The 606 trail.
Completed in 2015 after a lengthy planning process, The 606, another repurposed rail line, serves as a multi-use trail linking communities such as Wicker Park, Bucktown, Humboldt Park, and Logan Square.
Franke labeled The 606 as a “life-altering piece of infrastructure,” representing a significant shift towards utilizing abandoned rail lines for community enhancement.
Much of the state of Illinois has a reputation for successfully converting rail lines to bicycle and pedestrian trails, with the Illinois Prairie Path—the first rails-to-trails project in the U.S.—spanning 61 miles across multiple counties.
Illinois continues to work on various rails-to-trails initiatives, including the Weber Spur on the Northwest Side, the El Paseo Trail in Pilsen, and the Bronzeville Trail.
Witchek noted that many local examples of rail-to-trail conversions have stemmed from grassroots activism, asserting, “Now it’s our turn.”
The proposed mapping of the Crosstown Trail also encompasses a connection to the Weber Spur and includes a one-mile on-street bike lane running along Cortland Avenue, creating a conduit to The 606.
Particularly concerning is the stretch along Milwaukee Avenue, where two cyclists have tragically lost their lives in the past six years.
In light of this, Franke argued that transitioning rail routes into trails is key to enhancing cyclist safety by providing designated paths away from vehicular traffic.
Accessibility is at the core of Franke’s vision for the Crosstown Trail.
He believes the trail has the potential to connect the community to more off-street biking resources, helping to encourage individuals who may otherwise be intimidated by urban cycling.
“So many people are scared to bike in Chicago, and rightfully so,” Franke remarked.
The Metropolitan Planning Council recognized the Crosstown Trail in its compilation of 22 priority transportation infrastructure projects for Chicago in 2023.
Though acknowledging the length and cost typically associated with rails-to-trails conversions, Franke and Witchek have expressed their determination stating, “We see this as a pay-it-forward project, and you gotta start somewhere.”
For further updates on community meetings hosted by the Friends of the Crosstown Trails, visit their website.
image source from：https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/06/09/failed-crosstown-expressway-could-become-bike-trail-connecting-bucktown-to-botanic-gardens/
