Pedestrian Tragedy Inspires Safety Changes, Memorial at 36th and Western

Closing the cut-through of West 36th Street between South Western’s boulevard and avenue, and removal of parking on the boulevard, are coming safety changes inspired by the death of pedestrian Eric Hernandez, a McKinley Park neighborhood resident struck and killed at the intersection while walking to Jewel to get groceries.

Family members and neighbors remembered Hernandez at a memorial ceremony and balloon release held at the accident site on Saturday, March 9, 2024: exactly one year after the 34-year-old perished from the fatal accident.

A graphic from the 12th Ward illustrates new crosswalk striping and signs coming to West 36th Street and South Western Boulevard.“Out of tragedy can come good things,” said Illinois 24th District State Representative Theresa Mah, who lauded safety changes pending for the stretch of Western and coming street signs memorializing Hernandez.

Named After Eric

“We’re going to name this side of Western after Eric,” said 12th Ward Alderwoman Julia Ramirez, whose office spearheaded the safety changes for the intersection and approval for the memorial street signs.

A cross and flowers at West 36th Street and South Western Boulevard honors fatally injured pedestrian Eric Hernandez.Ramirez detailed how safety changes will roll out in phases: In spring 2024, new paint on intersection cross walks and new pedestrian crossing signs will increase visibility at the crossing, Ramirez said.

Barricades and Parking Removal

The second phase of safety changes will take place in summer and fall 2024 and include:

• Barricading West 36th Street between South Western Boulevard and South Western Avenue to prevent vehicle traffic passing through
• Installing radar speed feedback signs on the boulevard
• Replacing street parking on the east side of South Western Boulevard between West 35th Street and West 35th Place with a right turn lane to eastbound on West 35th Street

12th Ward Alderwoman Julia Ramirez speaks on March 9, 2024, at the memorial for Eric Hernandez at West 36th Street and South Western Boulevard.“It’s a hard day, but it’s good to see progress,” Ramirez said during the ceremony.

Countless Accidents

Honorary street signs memorializing Hernandez will be installed on South Western Boulevard at West 35th Street, West 35th Place and West 36th Street, as noted in diagrams provided by the 12th Ward.

Kevin O’Neil, a nearby resident who helped organize the memorial and said he has witnessed countless accidents at the intersection, noted that the Chicago Department of Transportation has recorded more than 500 traffic accidents in 2021 on the stretch of Western between West 35th Street and West Garfield Boulevard.

A graphic from the 12th Ward illustrates locations of coming traffic barricades and radar speed feedback signs at West 36th Street and South Western Boulevard.During 2021, which is most recent year traffic data is available, 19 crashes were recorded at the intersection of West 36th Street and South Western Boulevard alone, with excessive speed often noted as a major factor, O’Neil said.

Western Bridge Fix

The 12th Ward office noted another major change coming nearby to South Western Boulevard and Avenue: repair and repaving of the streets’ dilapidated bridge crossing over the Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal.

Illinois 24th District State Representative Theresa Mah speaks at the memorial for Eric Hernandez on March 9, 2024, at West 36th Street and South Western Boulevard.This project will include an entire repaving of Western Boulevard and Western Avenue between West 26th Street and West 34th Street, the 12th Ward announced.

A meeting from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at the Arturo Velasquez Institute, 2800 S. Western Ave., Chicago, will offer more details about South Western bridge repairs, the 12th Ward said.

Ed. Note: Kevin O’Neil writes articles for the McKinley Park News as a freelance neighborhood news correspondent.