Mills Pool Closes for the Season; Griffy Lake Nature Preserve is Celebrated; and 17th Street Reopens to Two-Way Traffic

Bloomington, Ind. – Numerous infrastructure improvement projects are underway this season to advance community goals, including safety, sustainability, accessibility, equity, economic vitality, and quality of life in Bloomington. The City will provide regular public updates on a range of these improvements as they progress. City departments coordinate with one another, as well as with private developers, to minimize impact to Bloomington residents and visitors. 

 

 

PARKS & RECREATION

 

Mills Pool and Bryan Park Pool

Mills Pool closed for the 2022 season on July 31. Bryan Park Pool has made the shift to back-to-school hours, and beginning August 6 is open Saturdays and Sundays only from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. The final day of pool operation for the 2022 season is Labor Day, September 5.

 

Park Ridge East Park

Rain during the last week of July put the paving contractor behind schedule for the asphalt repair and paving of the tennis and basketball courts at Park Ridge East. Work is still scheduled to take place in August. Signs warning park users about the upcoming, temporary closure of the courts are posted in the park.

 

Griffy: A Golden Celebration at Griffy Lake Nature Preserve

Bloomington Parks and Recreation, Mayor John Hamilton, and several special guests, officially cut the ribbon on the completed accessible fishing pier and sidepath project at Griffy Lake on July 29. Representatives from architectural firm Mader Design presented Bloomington Parks and Recreation with a canoe that they donated to the rental fleet at the Griffy Lake boathouse. Learn more about Griffy Lake at https://bton.in/d68AW.

 

 

UTILITIES

 

Hidden River Pathway Project

The two-year downtown stormwater infrastructure reconstruction project to address flooding during rain events continues. Last week the contractor, Milestone, excavated between Trinity Church and Longfei Restaurant and poured concrete curbs and sidewalk on 4th St. Rain has delayed paving work this week so Saturday work may be necessary. 

 

Grant will be closed from 4th to Kirkwood and 4th Street is only one lane from Lincoln to Grant. The alley on the east side of Grant, between Trinity and Longfei, will remain closed. The City will continue to coordinate with other construction and road projects as they reconstruct 1,829 feet of culverts to protect downtown area residential and commercial buildings. This project is on track to be finished by the February 2023 deadline. For more information about the project visit: bloomington.in.gov/utilities/hidden-river.

 

Businesses on 4th and Grant are still open as this project continues around them. They welcome customers and taking the time to visit them may afford residents an opportunity to see what’s happening with this project. Businesses in the impacted area include Siam House, Little Tibet, Burma Garden, Korea Restaurant, Oak, My Thai, DO Asian Fusion, Dat's, B-Town Gyros, Healthy Hoosiers, Bali Cafe, Storm Real Estate, Longfei, Parlor Donuts, Soma Coffeehouse, and Taste of India.

 

Evergreen Village Stormwater

City of Bloomington Utilities will be doing restoration work on a drainage ditch and detention pond in Evergreen Village, off Susie Street. Digging and grading is complete. The planting of native flowers and grasses is about halfway done. Weather permitting, the project will be complete in August.

 

 

PUBLIC WORKS

Crews will continue with ADA-compliant ramp installation on E 2nd Street from S High Street to S Swain Avenue to prepare for resurfacing. Paving is complete on Jefferson Street from 3rd to 10th. Milling and paving on High Street from Hunter to 2nd will begin next week.

 

ENGINEERING

 

17th Street Multiuse Path (Walnut to Grant)

The City opened up a new multiuse path on the northside of East 17th Street from North Walnut Street to North Grant Street. In addition to the new path, this section of road was resurfaced and new accessible sidewalk curb ramps were installed. Originally scheduled for completion in August, the project was completed three weeks early in anticipation of the return to School for both MCCSC and Indiana University. The multiuse path separates pedestrian and bicycle traffic from vehicular traffic along the corridor.  Its installation was the first phase of a multi-year project to install a multiuse path that will provide a continuous link along 17th Street from North Eagleson Avenue to the multiuse path along West Vernal Pike. Eventually, a multiuse path will link the IU Campus to the County path network that serves Ellettsville and Karst Farm Park.

 

 

Walnut Traffic Signals

The City’s project to construct new traffic signals at the N Walnut Street intersections  of 11th Street and 14th Street is expected to be substantially complete later this month.  Final work tasks to be completed over the upcoming weeks include installation of power hook up coordination with Duke and signal activation at the intersection with 14th Street. The new signal at 11th Street and Walnut Street was activated on July 25th. This project also includes curb ramp improvements for the pedestrian hybrid beacon crossing of S Walnut Street at the Switchyard Park entrance and B-Link Trail connection. The work at this crossing of S Walnut Street was completed last  week. 

 

1st Street Closure (IU Health Demo)

Renascent, Inc. will be completing the first phase of work in the right-of-way associated with the demolition of the IU Legacy Hospital site by removing the overhead utility bridge that spans across W 1st Street. There will be a full street closure at W 1st Street west of S Rogers to approximately S Fairview Street, as well as a sidewalk closure on the south side of W 1st Street in the same location. These closures will be in place from August 10th through August 23rd. Signage will be in place for the W 1st Street automobile detour and pedestrian detour. During the duration of this closure, work on the utility bridge will take place between the hours of 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

 

IU Poplars Building Demolition (Dunn St & Grant St impacts)

Due to the current demolition phase of the Indiana University Poplars Building on 7th Street, west of campus, N Dunn Street will be closed between E 6th and E 7th from August 3rd to August 13th. N Grant Street will be closed between E 6th and E 7th from August 29th to September 9th. The sidewalks adjacent to the building will also be closed during each of these closures. All of the closures will be 24 hours a day.

 

Crosswalk Project

Progress continues on the City’s crosswalk improvement project at the intersections of, 3rd and Grant Streets, 11th Street and Blair Avenue, and Patterson and Isaac Drive. Demolition has begun at all three intersections, and new curbs have been poured at 3rd and Grant. The project requires a short-term full closure of Grant Street just north of 3rd Street to facilitate pavement maintenance and is being coordinated with a water main connection for the adjacent development project (The Annex). Additional information about this project can be found at: https://bton.in/tifW1.

 

Dunn St Sidewalk Project 15th to 16th St 

Construction of the Dunn St Sidewalk project, prioritized by the City Council Sidewalk Committee, is in full swing. The project is to construct a new sidewalk along the west side of N Dunn St between 15th and 16th. Recent highlights include the installation of the curbs for the new tree plot, and a substantial portion of the new sidewalk. The new accessible curb ramps are scheduled for installation next week.  Additional information about the project and contractor can be found at: https://bton.in/Yjh1Z.