Kirkwood Pedestrian Enhancement Project and City Garages Progress, Paving Schedule

Bloomington, Ind. - 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 deteriorating brick crosswalks at each intersection along the city’s landmark boulevard and the installation of removable bollard barriers to create a pedestrian-friendly plaza for street fairs and other occasions. Crosswalks have thus far been installed at Indiana Avenue, Grant, Dunn, and Washington Streets; and Kirkwood reopened to vehicular traffic from Indiana up to Lincoln. Currently, under construction, the intersections at Lincoln and Walnut Streets are temporarily closed to vehicular traffic; pedestrians are directed to the alternative walk-arounds and temporary ADA ramps in place at these locations.  Traffic on Lincoln is currently running in two directions between Fourth Street and Kirkwood until the intersection there reopens.

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. 

Trades District and Fourth Street Garages                                                                            

The City’s garage projects are proceeding at the Trades District and on Fourth Street. Foundations are being installed and lower wall courses poured for the garage that will serve the City’s new innovation district, just south of West Tenth Street between the Showers City Hall building and the B-Line Trail.  In addition, foundation drainage engineering is underway this week, as per the projected timeline for the Trades District development. As construction of the garage proceeds over the coming months, motorists are advised to avoid Tenth Street between Rogers and Morton or to exercise caution, as the road will be frequently narrowed to a single lane or closed to traffic.  Contractors have been instructed to keep the roadways as clean as possible and to ensure that traffic safety measures are in place.  The Trades District Parking Garage will add 350 spaces to the inventory of parking spaces downtown upon completion in late 2020 or early 2021.  

Its design approved by the City Plan Commission March 9, the Fourth Street Garage project continues to progress favorably.  The first bid package--for the construction of drilled foundation piers and elevators--will be opened Wednesday, May 20; and the second--comprising all remaining construction--will be released this week, with bids due in a month.  In addition, the City is close to finalizing the contract for the structure’s public art component.  

The City has been evaluating the need for a temporary pedestrian walkway along the west side of Walnut, although it would be necessary to close it (and the westernmost lane of Walnut) once construction activity begins in late July, as per the project’s timeline. Once underway, the project to construct the 500-plus-vehicle facility should require 12 months to complete. The Fourth Street Garage and the Trades District Garage will be the first two garages in Indiana designed and built to achieve Parksmart-certification, based on compliance with guidelines that reduce environmental impact, increase energy efficiency and performance, and manage parking spaces efficiently.

Milling/Paving and Concrete Repair 

With spring’s warmer temperatures, the 2020 paving schedule has begun and concrete and curb repair is underway. The pedestrian island in the 1100 block of West Second Street/Bloomfield Road is currently being improved with the replacement of rock infill with red brick-hued concrete.  Trees to be planted in the island will further serve to prevent drivers from crossing the island to make unsafe left turns. The project should be completed this week, weather permitting.  

Paving is taking place this week along South Rose Avenue from East Third Street south to East Hunter Avenue, and from East Second Street north 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 project includes patching, milling, and paving, and curb ramp replacement 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.