BLOOMINGTON – City of Bloomington Utilities (CBU) has contracted with Indiana-based Milestone Contractors LP to begin work on the Clear Creek Culvert Reconstruction project in Bloomington, Indiana, on February 5, 2024. The project will improve stormwater drainage and utility infrastructure in the downtown Bloomington area from Dunn Street to Indiana Avenue, fully updating the circa-1900 tunnel to current standards and preparing the municipal separate storm sewer system for years to come.
This is the final section of this culvert system under downtown to be addressed; the first project was in 1999. Pre-project utility relocations for electric and telecom are complete. There will be traffic and parking limitations on and off through the spring. Indiana Avenue will be closed for approximately ten weeks but reopen by early August 2024 before Indiana University students return to the Bloomington campus for the fall semester. Total project completion, including plantings, will occur in October.
“We are excited to launch the next phase of this important community project to help improve Bloomington’s underground infrastructure,” said Milestone Superintendent Thomas Gott. “Our strong partnership with CBU and many community members is crucial to ensure we do the job safely and efficiently.”
Milestone will replace the existing tunnel with a new 22’x5’ concrete tunnel while working around the flowing underground creek and existing buildings. The original limestone from the tunnel will be reused as part of the creek restoration. The Milestone team is working closely with all directly affected individuals and businesses, including Indiana University, to minimize the impacts of such a significant project. Milestone is also continuing to work closely with CBU to ensure the community’s safety and timely completion of the project.
“Maintaining the infrastructure that supports Bloomington is more important than ever in a changing climate,” said CBU Communications Manager Holly McLauchlin. “Milestone was a great partner in the 2021-23 portion of this project and we look forward to working with this communicative and safety-focused company again.”
In 2023, the Milestone team reconstructed over 1,829 feet of culverts and sanitary from Kirkwood to 1st Street. Before replacement, this was some of the oldest infrastructure in the city – dating back to 1900. Each section that has been reconstructed is essential to preventing potential structural failures and improving the flow of stormwater downtown.
