Fourth Street Garage Starts Coming Down; Infrastructure Improvements Continue

(BLOOMINGTON) – Demolition of the Fourth Street Garage continues this week, after preparations underway since the beginning of the month.  Last week, Denney Excavating began their make-ready preparation work for the demolition of the parking structure. Decommissioning of the existing elevator was completed and the hydraulic fluid removed; additionally, refrigerant recovery on the existing air handling unit has been completed.  With cabling and stabilization in preparation for demolition completed, the parking structure will come down in sections over the next several weeks.

Representatives from Denney Excavating and Wilhelm Construction met with the project’s structural engineer for consultation and review of their approach to the demolition.  The engineer’s review and recommendations, which are expected soon, will confirm the demolition contractor’s due diligence in assuring a controlled demolition. 

Access to businesses adjacent to the existing garage is being maintained during the duration of the demolition. As a safety precaution, the north-south alley on the west side of the garage is closed during demolition from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., when it reopens to pedestrian traffic. A temporary covered walkway provides safe access for pedestrians and patrons of the businesses located off the alley. 

Paving Season Continues

The busy paving season continues with projects scheduled for multiple locations around the city.  North Jackson Street is scheduled for paving this week between 13th and 17th Streets. Weather permitting, Street Division crews will be at work at this location Monday through Thursday.  On the east side, crews will be working in the Gentry Estates neighborhood Tuesday through Friday completing the paving of Bill Mallory Boulevard/South Park Ridge Road from State Road 446 to East Third Street.  In the same vicinity, crews will be milling and paving Brighton Crest Road from East Bennington Boulevard to South Smith Road. Street crews will be crack sealing South Sare Road from East Moores Pike to East Canada Drive, and Pete Ellis Drive from Third to Tenth Street.  As updated here, lane restrictions and street closures are in place at these locations. The department updates the paving schedule at this map.

Brighten B-Town

The Brighten B-town initiative is completing the coordinated maintenance of Zone 2.  Since the program began April 1, more than 27,328 linear feet of curb has been painted and 38,640 pounds of curbside debris removed.  Additionally, 330 fire hydrants have been painted, 1,822 stormwater inlets cleared, and 112.25 truckloads of mulch laid. Brighten B-town has integrated the efforts of staff from multiple City departments to deliver upkeep and maintenance services block by block.  Brighten B-town progress may be charted here.  

Pedestrian Island

Installation of a pedestrian island at the intersection of Walnut Street Pike and East Winslow Road is complete.  Signage has been installed indicating that vehicles traveling north on Walnut Street Pike may only make right turns to head east at Winslow Road.  The island construction is part of the Winslow-Henderson Path and Intersection Improvements Project, to enhance safety at this location and increase bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and connectivity.  The project comprises new multi-use paths on East Winslow Road between South Walnut Street and South Henderson Street and on South Henderson Street for approximately 650 feet north of East Winslow Road, intersection improvements for East Winslow Road at South Walnut Street Pike, and short sidewalk connections to adjacent facilities as necessary. More information about the Winslow-Henderson project is available here

Moores Pike Sidewalk Project

A project to install sidewalk on the south side of Moores Pike from South Woodruff Lane to College Mall Road will begin shortly.  Funding for the Moores Pike Sidewalk Project was allocated by the Common Council’s sidewalk committee and approved by the Board of Public Works August 7.  The project is scheduled for completion by the end of November, weather permitting. More information about the project is available here.

Construction of Multi-Use Path

Construction of the missing gap in the existing multi-use path along the north side of West Second Street/West Bloomfield Road between Adams Street and Patterson Drive continues.  New pavement was stripped and crosswalk markings painted last week. Dirt compaction continues in preparation for the opening of the multi-use path to pedestrian traffic. Crews are also improving the signalized intersections of West Bloomfield Road at South Landmark Avenue and West Second Street at South Patterson Drive. The federally-funded project is included in the Bloomington/Monroe County Metropolitan Planning Organization (BMCMPO) Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). Construction completion is slated for fall 2019. More information about the Second & Bloomfield Multimodal Safety Project is available here.    

17th Street Reconstruction Project

]\The 17th Street Reconstruction Project to add pedestrian infrastructure and roadway improvements along the busy corridor is scheduled for completion this fall. Work continues with the installation of stormwater utilities and the completion of underground utility installation.  This project requires a full closure of West 17th Street from the roundabout at Arlington Road to the Vernal Pike/17th Street overpass.  All through traffic, including pedestrians, must use an alternate route due to safety concerns.  More information about the project can be found here.