Did You Know?
Walkers rejoice! Queen’s Landing crosswalk reopens on Thanksgiving
In a move that will improve safety along the lakefront, the Chicago Department of Transportation is restoring the crosswalk that connects two iconic public spaces: Buckingham Fountain and the Queen’s Landing.
In 2005, the city ripped out the crosswalk connecting these two places with the intention of speeding up traffic on Lakeshore Drive.
Instead of crossing Lakeshore Drive at Buckingham Fountain, people had to walk a quarter mile to either Balbo Drive or Jackson Drive to cross the multi-lane thoroughfare.
November 24, Thanksgiving Day, marks the reopening of the crosswalk.
Active Trans applauds the city’s move in making one of the city’s major tourist attractions safer and more inviting.
The reopened crosswalk will be ADA-compliant, with curb ramps and lowered pedestrian buttons. The site will also include pedestrian countdowns, to help pedestrians make informed decisions before attempting to cross without being temporarily stopped at the median.
Queen's Landing was named because the Chicago International Trade Fair, which took place in 1959 at Navy Pier, brought Queen Elizabeth II to Chicago. It was the first time in history that a reigning British monarch had come to Chicago. She disembarked from her boat to a large celebration at what is now Queen's Landing.
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