(BLOOMINGTON) – The City of Bloomington continues to advance projects enhancing safety, transportation, economic vitality, and quality of life this spring.
Improvements to city streets, parking facilities, and bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure are among the essential activities permitted to proceed by state and local regulations and in compliance with current public health guidelines.
City employees are practicing and working with contractors to implement CDC protocols regarding physical distancing, hygiene, and disinfection of vehicles and equipment to protect workers engaged in these projects and prevent community transmission of COVID-19.
Kirkwood Avenue Maintenance Project
Since April 1, the Kirkwood Avenue Maintenance Project has progressed steadily with the replacement of aging brick crosswalks at each intersection and the installation of removable bollard barriers to convert the city’s landmark boulevard into a pedestrian-friendly plaza on occasion. Crosswalks have thus far been installed at Indiana Avenue, Grant, Dunn, Washington, and Walnut Streets.  Kirkwood has been reopened to vehicular traffic from Indiana up to Lincoln, and the intersection at Kirkwood and Walnut reopened Tuesday afternoon.Â
Currently, under construction, the intersection at Lincoln is temporarily closed to vehicular traffic in all directions as it is on Dunn through Kirkwood; pedestrians are directed to the alternative walk-arounds and temporary ADA ramps in place at these locations. Traffic on Lincoln will continue to run in two directions between Fourth Street and Kirkwood until the intersection there reopens next week, as scheduled.
Concrete pads have been poured at three locations adjacent to Kirkwood where racks will be installed to accommodate the removable bollards when not in use. In addition, new sanitation cans have been installed in the City’s three pay-by-plate surface parking lots serving the area. In all, 22 curb ramps and 20 stamped concrete crosswalks at Indiana, Dunn, Grant, Lincoln, Walnut, and Washington together with 90+ bollards along Kirkwood are scheduled for installation by June 1. After milling and paving the entire length of Kirkwood, the project is expected to be complete by the end of June. More information is available here.
Milling/Paving and Concrete Repair
The 2020 paving and concrete/curb repair season proceed with improvements to the pedestrian island in the 1100 block of West Second Street/Bloomfield Road. The island has been filled with red concrete and will be planted with trees to prevent drivers from crossing it to make unsafe left turns.
Red concrete replaces rock infill in pedestrian island in 1100 block of W. Second Street
Sidewalk improvements are being made Wednesday and Thursday, May 27 and 28 with the installation of ADA-compliant curb ramps at the intersection of East Grimes Lane and South Washington Street. Paving is taking place this week along South Wingfield Drive from East Moores Pike to the street’s end, and from East Breckenmore Drive from South Wingfield to the road’s end. This year’s proposed paving schedule is mapped at this link.
East Third Street Resurfacing/Reconfiguration Project
The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is currently completing ADA-compliant curb ramp installation on the north side of East Third Street from Pete Ellis Drive to Smith Road as part of a resurfacing/reconfiguration project. The right lane of westbound traffic is closed from Park Ridge Road to Pete Ellis during the active work hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The curb ramp replacement anticipates patching, milling, and paving that will take place during the second week of June along the 1.4-mile section of East Third Street between College Mall Road and State Road 446. Following paving, the roadway will be reconfigured between Clarizz and S.R. 446 to include a center turn lane, with one travel lane in each direction. Bike lanes will also be incorporated on each side. The project is scheduled to be completed by August 2020. More information about the project is available through INDOT at in.gov/indot or 1-855-463-6848.
Adams Street Sidewalk and Intersection Improvements Project
Construction of a sidewalk along the east side of South Adams Street from South Patterson Drive to West Kirkwood Avenue continues, along with the city’s first protected bicycle lanes on each side of the street. The project also replaces the traffic signal equipment and implements lane changes at the intersection of Adams and Kirkwood. The project is designed to improve the safety of the intersection for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. Drivers should be attentive to lane changes and ongoing construction at the intersection. The project is scheduled for completion on June 15. More information about the project is available here.
More information about current City-led infrastructure projects is available here.
When encountering the foregoing improvement projects, drivers are asked to travel slowly, cautiously, and distraction-free through every construction zone and be attentive to lane changes for their safety and that of the workers.
