Named after Alexander N. Fullerton, West Fullerton Avenue whispers stories of Chicago’s growth. This Vermont native was one of Chicago’s first three attorneys. Imagine Fullerton arriving in a young Chicago.
West Fullerton Avenue stretches east and west. It spans from Gary Avenue in Carol Stream to Lake Shore Drive. That is a length of 21.32 miles. However, the road is split in many locations. These splits are usually because of freeways or railroads.
Let’s journey along West Fullerton Avenue. We’ll uncover some of its secrets.
Starting west, Fullerton Avenue begins in Carol Stream at Gary Avenue. It heads east for 3.49 miles. Then it turns south as Liberty Drive in Glendale Heights. That’s just the first of several segments.
Another segment begins as a continuation of Collins Avenue. This switch occurs under Interstate 355. All 3.54 miles of this segment lie in Addison. It runs east, intersecting Illinois Route 53. Finally, it ends at Central Avenue.
Think about the challenges of navigating these early roads. Today, Fullerton Avenue is easier to traverse. The 74 Fullerton bus serves the street. It runs from Halsted Street to Grand Avenue.
The Red Line, Brown Line and Purple Line Express stop at Sheffield Avenue. The Milwaukee District North Line’s Healy station is at Fullerton Avenue and Pulaski Road.
The longest segment of Fullerton Avenue runs for 7.9 miles. At Chicago’s western border, the road is signed as Grand Avenue. It runs east to west of Natchez Avenue. There, it turns diagonal. Fullerton, restored, continues east. It crosses Cicero Avenue, Pulaski Road and Kedzie Avenue. Milwaukee and Western Avenues are also crossed.
East of Western Avenue, Fullerton Avenue meets Interstates 90 and 94. These are also known as the Kennedy Expressway. East of the expressway, it intersects Elston Avenue. It then crosses the North Branch of the Chicago River.
Further east, West Fullerton Avenue intersects Sheffield Avenue. Then Halsted Street and Lincoln Avenue at the same point. Finally Clark Street. From Halsted and Lincoln to its east end, it is known as Fullerton Parkway. It ends at U.S. Route 41, Lake Shore Drive, in Lincoln Park.
In 1960, the city began replacing the swing bridge across the Chicago River. It was located at Fullerton Avenue. The chief bridge engineer had worked on plans for the replacement bridge in 1936 and 1937. The federal government approved a fixed bridge. This would save the city millions of dollars. However, parties with shipping interests on the North Branch opposed the fixed bridge. This delayed construction.
West Fullerton Avenue connects diverse neighborhoods and histories. As you travel along it, remember its namesake. Remember the attorney who helped shape Chicago’s early days.