Midway was built for DC3 up to DC7's and Constellations.
No way to expand it without taking out neighborhoods.
I'm not really addressing expansion. I'd imagine the airport was built long before a major intersection was built off the end of the runway.
Here where I live, we had one of the oldest private airports in the country, Evergreen Airpark. It was built when nothing was there but pastures. Over the years, residences and businesses were buit right off the end of the runways and of course, new residents starting complaining about the airport, which used to host one of the largest antique airshows every August.
When the original owner passed way, his son took over and has now decided to close the airport and sell it off to developers who have announced they will raze the hangers and build retail space and more condominiums and apartments. This in a stretch that is already wall to wall condominiums and shopping centers.
I'd also be willing to bet there have been more fatal car accidents at this intersection over the years than fatal aircraft incidents.
I think it's tragic that we allow developers to purchase land bordering airports and build whatever they wish, with no regard to the publics safety about aircraft landing and taking off. When something does finally happen, we blame the airport and airplane.
If we can prevent building on land due to some snail gartner bug, why can't we have a little common sense to prevent massive buildups around airports already there for a buffer zone?