City of Bloomington Expands Traffic Barriers Along East 3rd Street Bicycle Lane to Enhance Safety

The City of Bloomington will install additional traffic barriers along East 3rd Street to improve safety and accessibility for cyclists and other roadway users. The barriers will be placed in the painted buffer between the bicycle and vehicle traffic lanes along East 3rd Street between South Indiana Avenue and South Rose Avenue. Weather permitting, the installation is scheduled to take place during Spring Break, from March 17-22, 2025.

Construction will involve lane restrictions and flagging operations along East 3rd Street. Drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians are encouraged to use caution while traveling through the area during this time.

This project is part of the City’s ongoing efforts to enhance the safety and functionality of the 3rd Street corridor. The bicycle lane is designed for cyclists only, but vehicles attempting to use it as a drop-off or pick-up zone have created safety concerns for cyclists, pedestrians, and buses. Observations indicate that the barriers installed in 2024 have been effective in discouraging this behavior.

"The newly installed barriers have made my commute so much more comfortable!" said one resident. Another noted, "3rd Street is much easier to bike on now."

To ensure safe and legal drop-off and pick-up options, vehicles should utilize posted loading zones, side streets, permitted locations on Indiana University property, or other designated areas.

This project is the second phase of the East 3rd Street Protected Bicycle Lane project. Phase one, completed in March 2024, included the installation of traffic barriers and delineator posts between South Indiana Avenue and South Eagleson Avenue. That phase utilized two types of traffic barriers: rubber vehicle stops and an engineered "Cycle Lane" barrier manufactured by TrafficLogix.

Observations over the past year have shown that the engineered traffic barriers have been more durable than the rubber vehicle stops. Phase two of the project will replace the rubber vehicle stops with "Cycle Lane" barriers or a similar product and fill in the remaining gaps in bicycle lane protection between South Indiana Avenue and South Rose Avenue.

“We’ve learned a lot over the last year and were able to do so cost-effectively by using materials the City already had on hand,” said Kendall Knoke, Project Engineer with the City of Bloomington Engineering Department. “In this next phase, we are better informed regarding which products will be the most effective.”

Barriers will not be installed at bus stops, intersections where turning movements are necessary, or at driveways. The City will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the new barriers and make adjustments as needed.