A recent widening project at 71st Street and Riverside Drive added a third southbound lane on Riverside Drive between Peoria Avenue and 71st Street, plus dual left-turn lanes on Riverside Drive. The new southbound lane connects to a third southbound lane south of 71st Street, which was built when the street first was constructed in 1986, and allows three continuous lanes of southbound traffic through the intersection. The dual left-turn lanes were built by reducing the median to add the extra lane. A new traffic signal also was installed, which includes five signals for southbound and northbound traffic and four for eastbound traffic. Each lane now has a signal at the intersection. East of Riverside Drive, the Bradford pear trees have grown tall enough to block a long-range view. However, the section of 71st Street near Columbia and Evanston avenues is visible in the distance. Shoney's is long gone and has become China King, an Asian buffet. Photo taken June 2011.
