(BLOOMINGTON) – Construction is scheduled to begin today on a project to improve safety and accessibility for a pedestrian, bicycle, and motor vehicle traffic on the 17th Street corridor west of the roundabout, between Monroe Street and Lismore Drive. The thoroughfare has seen a significant increase in use since the opening of the Vernal Pike/17th Street I-69 overpass in 2018.
Improvements will include enhanced stormwater infrastructure, a multi-use path on the north side of the street, a sidewalk on the south side of the street, safety improvements to the Lindbergh Drive/17th Street intersection, the conversion of Lindbergh Drive to a two-way street near 17th Street, and the reconstruction of the 17th Street roadway itself.
Details of the project and its scope were determined through a design process that included public outreach and stakeholder involvement.
17th Street will be closed to through traffic during construction, which is scheduled for completion by November 8. An official detour route utilizing Crescent Road, Fountain Drive, 11th Street, and Monroe Street has been designated
Access will be maintained for local residents and businesses. Additionally, access to the bus stop at the intersection of Lismore Drive and 17th Street will not be interrupted.
Construction Map
The contract to complete the 17th Street project has been awarded to Reed and Sons Construction. Funding for the infrastructure improvement was provided through an interlocal agreement with the Indiana Department of Transportation and a Community Crossings Matching Grant, also from the state agency.
“The planning department has worked in tandem with INDOT and engaged with neighbors and other invested members of the public to make sure that this significant artery is improved in terms of its multi-modal functionality and safety for all users,” said Mayor John Hamilton. “It’s a project that’s been in the works since early 2017, so we’re eager for its completion this fall to make navigating our northwest quadrant much easier and much safer.”
