(BLOOMINGTON) – Demolition of the Fourth Street Garage is scheduled for completion by the end of this week. Fourth Street remains closed to through traffic between South College Avenue and South Walnut Street during business hours today as a safety precaution. Local access to Fourth Street will be maintained from College Avenue, at the west end of the block. Patrons of businesses on Fourth Street will be allowed to park west of the alley.
Next week, construction crews will begin removing construction debris from the site to be recycled. Salvaging and recycling materials left after the demolition, which should take several weeks, is required for Parksmart certification of the garage that will replace the existing structure. Similar to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for commercial building design/construction, Parksmart certification is based on compliance with guidelines that reduce environmental impact, increase energy efficiency and performance, and manage parking spaces efficiently. The Fourth Street Garage and the Trades District Garage will be the first two Parksmart-certified garages in Indiana.
Once the site is cleared, the early foundation package for the garage will begin. The remaining bid packages for the Fourth Street Garage will be released on Tuesday, November 12, with bids due on Tuesday, December 10. To view the bid packages, please visit construction manager F.A. Wilhelm’s website https://www.fawilhelm.com/bid-board/.
17th Street Reconstruction Project
Work continues on the 17th Street Reconstruction Project to add pedestrian infrastructure and roadway improvements along this busy corridor. Originally scheduled for completion this month, the project has encountered unforeseen issues that will delay its completion until spring 2020. Notably, the need to remove more than 1,500 cubic yards of rock in the course of underground utility relocation has incurred substantial delays in the project.
This project has required a full closure of West 17th Street from the roundabout at Arlington Road to the Vernal Pike/17th Street overpass. Over the winter, the contractor (Reed & Sons) will plow the road and maintain access to properties in case of snow. The Department of Planning and Transportation will contact all residents affected by the road closure about the delay in the project’s scheduled completion. All through traffic, including pedestrians, must use an alternate route due to safety concerns. The tentative completion date for the 17th Street Reconstruction Project is on or after April 15, 2020, weather permitting. More information about the project can be found here.
Second & Bloomfield Multimodal Safety Project
The Second & Bloomfield Multimodal Safety Project is nearing completion, with the activation of a new signal at the intersection of South Patterson Drive and West Second Street. The newly installed signal at South Landmark Avenue and West Bloomfield Road will be activated in the near future. The federally-funded project to complete the multi-use path along the north side of Second/ Bloomfield between Adams and Patterson is included in the Bloomington/Monroe County Metropolitan Planning Organization (BMCMPO) Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). More information about the Second & Bloomfield Multimodal Safety Project is available here.
Moores Pike Sidewalk Project
Crews have completed installation of poured curbs and will continue laying sidewalk on the south side of Moores Pike from South Woodruff Lane to College Mall Road this week. The Moores Pike Sidewalk Project is scheduled for completion by the end of November 2019, weather permitting. More information about the project is available here.
