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.
As we enter the colder weather seasons, projects and improvements wind down. This is the final update of the season. We will resume this weekly communication in the spring. Please watch for the monthly event and program updates and take advantage of all that Bloomington has to offer.
PARKS & RECREATION
Progress Continues on the Playground at the Waldron, Hill, and Buskirk Park
Contractors continue to install play structures at the new playground at Waldron, Hill, and Buskirk Park. Once all the equipment is installed, poured-in-place rubber safety surfacing will be added as weather permits.
ENGINEERING
17th Street (College to Monroe)
Construction has begun on the continuation of the 17th Street multi-use path. This path will connect the previous phase east of Walnut Street to the multiuse path at the 17th Street, Arlington Road, and Monroe Street roundabout.
Beginning this week and continuing throughout the winter, utility companies will be relocating poles along the north side of 17th Street.
Traffic lanes have been shifted south to accommodate the new pole locations. Construction work will begin in early Spring 2023. (see photo below)
Hopewell Phase 1 East Development
The demolition and site restoration is complete. The Engineering Department is seeking bids for the infrastructure phase of the project, with construction starting early next year.
The infrastructure phase will construct a north-south extension of Madison Street from 1st to 2nd Street and a new east-west street, named University Street, from Morton to Rogers Street.
Along the north side of the new University Street, the project will create a linear park with a wetland garden, tree grove, stage/lawn area, and other park amenities.
The infrastructure work will support the creation of 15 parcels totaling over 3.5 acres of development land. (see photos below)
ENGINEERING
Aerial drone photo showing the development site prior to demolition. The photo looks southwest from the intersection of 2nd and Morton Street, showing residential houses in the foreground with warehouses behind and the legacy hospital in the background.
UTILITIES
The City of Bloomington Utilities is completing a water main replacement between College and Walnut and 7th and 8th streets. In 2016, CBU instituted a long-term program to replace aging infrastructure, which has a current budget of $3 million per year for water main replacements. Water main replacements are prioritized based on several factors such as mains feeding critical locations, pipes known to be in poor condition, and opportunities to coordinate with other departments to minimize damage to roads. There have been several water main breaks in this area, which this service upgrade should prevent in the future. This project is substantially complete and workers are finishing road and curb repair and cleaning out inlets.
PUBLIC WORKS
Street Paving
Two sections of alleys on the western portion of the square will be paved on Thursday. Next week, on Tuesday and Wednesday weather permitting, a crew will be repairing the sidewalk and meter post in front of the Bluebird at 216 N Walnut Street.
Crews do their best to project work times accurately, but due to supply chain issues, there could be a delay in some concrete-related work.
