BLOOMINGTON – Numerous infrastructure improvement projects are underway this season to advance community goals, including safety, sustainability, accessibility, equity, economic vitality, and quality of life in Bloomington. The City will provide regular public updates on a range of these improvements as they progress. City departments coordinate with one another, as well as with private developers, to minimize the impact on Bloomington residents and visitors.
PARKS & RECREATION
Waldron, Hill, and Buskirk Park Stage Re-opens
Masonry repairs to the columns on the stage at the Waldron, Hill, and Buskirk Park are complete, and the stage is open for use. The stage was closed in fall 2021 when cracks appeared in the support columns.
Goat Farm Improvement Project Begins
Contractors began work last week at the Goat Farm Park on a five-acre expansion to the park’s native prairie. Crews are mowing and will selectively use chemical herbicides to remove existing vegetation, including invasive species, as part of a 5-acre native prairie expansion. This winter, native flowers, forbs, and grasses will be established through seeding.
Trail improvements will include a new boardwalk to be built on the southwest side of the park, and a paved connector on the northeast side of the park to create a completely paved, accessible loop. Improvements at the Goat Farm, which will include siding and re-roofing the barn and painting the silo, are funded by a $1 million donation by the Sherman and Meredith Rogers family. Visit https://bton.in/uD3bB to see diagrams of the coming improvements and to learn more about the improvement project.
UTILITIES
Hidden River Pathway Project
The two-year downtown stormwater infrastructure reconstruction project to address flooding during rain events continues and Grant Street between 4th and Kirkwood remains affected. 4th Street is now fully re-open. The culvert is complete and the next steps are repairing and paving the road, alley, and parking lot so, weather permitting, they may be reopened in the next two weeks.
The City will continue to coordinate with other construction and road projects as they reconstruct 1,829 feet of culverts to protect downtown area residential and commercial buildings. This project is on track to be finished by the February 2023 deadline. For more information about the project visit: bloomington.in.gov/utilities/hidden-river.
PUBLIC WORKS
Street crews milled E Queens Way Drive from S Sussex Drive to S Montclair Avenue, S Renwick Boulevard from S Montclair Avenue to S Ramsey Drive, and S Walnut Street Pike from S Walnut Street to S Heather Drive. Sidewalk crews installed ADA-compliant ramps at S Walnut Street Pike and E Heather Drive as well as S Walnut Street Pike and E Allendale Drive. Monday, crews will begin paving on E Queens Way and S Walnut Street Pike. Sidewalk crews will begin installing ADA-compliant ramps on E Weymouth Lane at N Plymouth Road and Park Ridge Court ahead of the paving crew.
ENGINEERING
Hopewell Phase 1 East
Site restoration will continue across the site as the majority of the demolition is complete. Material haul-off for disposal and recycling will continue over the next couple of weeks. Demolition of the last two buildings, 408 & 416 1st Street, is scheduled to begin on Friday and continue into next week.
The Hopewell Phase 1 East project site is bounded by 2nd Street to the north, 1st Street to the south, B-Line to the east, and Rogers Street to the west. Additional information about the project and the contractor can be found at the following links: https://bton.in/mRp~I, hopewellbloomington.org & renascentinc.com/
Lane Restrictions
Over the next few weeks, Lineal Contracting will be completing a fiber project for Everstream along S Rogers Street, W Patterson Drive, W Grimes Lane, and S Walnut. There will be lane restrictions along those streets as they place both underground and aerial fiber cable. There will be intermittent sidewalk closures as well.
Jackson Creek Trail Phase II
Construction has started on the southern section of the Jackson Creek Trail Phase Two Project. This phase of the project will connect to the trail at Sherwood Oaks Park and continue south to Rhorer Road and then east to connect to the multi-use path along Sare Road. When completed, this project will become a vital neighborhood connection between three City Parks (Sherwood Oaks, Olcott, and Southeast Park) and two Public Schools (Jackson Creek Middle School and Childs Elementary). Construction is anticipated to be completed by the end of this year.
Crestmont Traffic Calming
Construction has begun for the installation of traffic calming devices on 12th Street (Lindbergh to Monroe) and 13th Street (Illinois to Summit). Milling is in progress today, and installation of the asphalt speed cushions will begin tomorrow. The contractor expects substantial completion by this Friday, September 30th. The traffic calming project was prioritized through the City’s Resident-Led Process of the Traffic Calming and Greenways Program (TCGP). Additional information about the project and the contractor can be found at: https://bton.in/6nWTt.
