Copyright Joliet, IL Patch
Manhattan Mayor Mike Adrieansen said Village officials have been working to address safety and traffic concerns in town. MANHATTAN, IL — A community in mourning after a 13-year-old boy was fatally struck by a semi in the heart of town is calling for change on Manhattan streets—and the mayor says officials are trying. Mayor Mike Adrieansen took to social media Tuesday to address concerns of street safety on US Rte. 52, also laying out steps he says the Village has taken to tackle issues such as speeding, truck traffic and pedestrian safety. Though details of the crash have not yet been released, concern about the roadway has heightened. RELATED Boy Fatally Struck By Semi In Downtown Manhattan: Manhattan PD Manhattan Reels After Deaths Of 2 Young Boys, Town Rallies To Uplift Families Adrieansen on Tuesday said that while Route 52 is a state road, local officials have taken their concerns to the Illinois Department of Transportation. "I want to begin by expressing my deepest condolences for the tragic loss our community suffered last night," Adrieansen wrote. "As a parent, neighbor, and Mayor of this Village, I share in your grief, your anger, and your urgent desire for change. No words can ease the pain of losing a child, and no action can undo what has happened, I wish it could. "Our children deserve safe streets, protected crossings, and a town where they can move freely without fear. I know many residents have concerns about semi-truck traffic, especially near schools, parks, the library, and the community center. We have shared those same concerns with the Illinois Department of Transportation." Village officials, he said, have met with IDOT on several concerns, including designating Route 52 as a size-restricted truck route. The size restriction has been in place since 2018, with maximum length set to 65 feet, Village Administrator Jeff Wold said. The size restriction, though, was not reflected in truck route maps until 2022 or 2023, Wold said. The Village has implemented a truck enforcement officer, as well. Stops for size restrictions have increased, Manhattan Police Chief Ryan Gulli said. In 2024, stops were up by nearly 370, with 1,150 total that year. In 2023, 789 local ordinance citations were issued. Additionally, an engineer is working on plans for crosswalks in the downtown area. Village officials previously requested that IDOT install crosswalks in the downtown, but Wold said the department required that the Village design them and submit plans to IDOT for approval. IDOT is in phase 1 engineering for the intersection of Baker Road, to slow traffic coming into town, he added. RELATED: 4 Crashes A Year In Last 5: IDOT To Study US 52, Baker Intersection A traffic study exploring the possibility of a truck bypass around the downtown has also been commissioned. Specifically, the Village's Comprehensive Plan denotes using Cherry Hill Road to construct a bypass that would reroute truck traffic. "During online outreach, 48 percent of respondents expressed concerns about Manhattan’s ability to effectively handle traffic along its major roadways, highlighting a need for better solutions," the plan reads. "Redirecting U.S. Route 52 would reduce heavy truck traffic Downtown, creating a more pedestrian-friendly environment and enhancing safety for both residents and visitors. In addition to addressing current traffic challenges, the reroute would support the Village’s long-term growth, providing more efficient transportation routes for trucks while preserving the character and accessibility of Downtown." Residents responded to Adrieansen on the Village's social media. "What can I do to speak on behalf of the children who ride their bikes from Stonegate to MJHS who don’t have a sidewalk, especially over the railroad tracks on Smith Road?" one wrote. "The sidewalk ends and the kids have no choice but to ride on the road to cross the tracks. I would like to know if there’s room in the budget to keep our kids safe. Thank you." "We need sidewalks to the Round Barn or a trail to connect," another wrote. "I see kids all the time riding bikes across 52 down there. This is a sad situation not knowing what happened. I’ll keep my comments to myself, but we should have better crosswalks at that corner. I see kids all the time waiting to cross especially at that time and people are watching traffic to the left and forget about the right because they flow with traffic when turning and forget about the pedestrians on the corner. My condolences to the boy and his family. I can’t imagine the devastation and pain they are going through… God Bless Manhattan." Another called for a walking bridge or other conduit connecting Prairie Trails, White Feather, and Round Barn. "I can't tell you how many times I see kids on bikes or motorized scooters, bikes darting out," they wrote. "With cars and semis alike doing 50 mph there's no chance they would stop on time if one of those kids fell. I guess a stoplight would also be nice if they can't put a footbridge across." One mother whose child was hit on East North Street last year said there need to be signs indicating truck size restrictions, among other changes. "The entire downtown intersection. NEEDS to change," she wrote. "The speeds through town, need to change. No signage indicating school zone or speed limits down Eastern next to Anna Mac or Park headed south to Anna Mac. That needs to change. E. North Street has no streetlights coming into town. That needs to change. "I’ve requested sidewalks along E. North Street and was told not possible. That needs to change. The speeds coming west into town from cedar down Manhattan Monee changes from 55 to 30 within 1/2 mile. That needs to change. "My child was hit last year on E North Street. I am devastated to hear of the boy yesterday. PLEASE PLEASE help me fight for these changes. I’ve made calls, I’ve sent emails. This is not my specialty. I’m begging for help for our children." One woman had harsh words for local leaders. "This is unacceptable" she wrote. "ONE child getting hurt, ONE child losing their life, is one too many! Stop saying what’s been done to make things safer, because what you’ve done FAILED, EPICALLY! A truck route should NEVER go through a town! You said it yourself, 'our children deserve safe streets…' then do your damn job and make this town safe or get out of office and let’s elect someone who will!!!" Monday's crash remains under investigation, Adrieansen said.
