The following is a press release written by Desiree Molina for the City of Bloomington.
Bloomington, Ind. – The City of Bloomington will begin two street maintenance projects in late August and September focusing on street maintenance. These projects, coordinated by both the Department of Public Works (DPW) and the Engineering Department, will involve asphalt resurfacing as well as safety and accessibility enhancements in downtown Bloomington and along W 3rd Street.
The Downtown Street Maintenance Project will cover 4th Street (from Madison Street to Indiana Ave.), 6th Street (from Walnut Street to Indiana Ave.), College Ave. (from 11th Street to 4th Street), and Walnut Street (from 11th Street to 3rd Street). The work will involve asphalt resurfacing, the installation of accessible pedestrian curb ramps, and the replacement of damaged sidewalk panels. The project will also improve pedestrian safety and reduce crosswalk distances by constructing intersection bumpouts at multiple locations, removing the eastbound right turn lane at the intersection of 4th Street at College Ave. and removing the westbound right turn lane at the intersection of 4th Street at Walnut Street.
The project also includes converting head-in angle parking on 6th Street (from Walnut Street to Washington Street) to back-in angle parking. The project also includes additional maintenance for on-street parking within the downtown area and the installation of new accessible parking spaces. The project is primarily funded by the Consolidated Redevelopment District (CRED) and construction is expected to begin the last week of August.
The W 3rd Street Maintenance Project, scheduled to begin in Sept., will include similar street maintenance and safety upgrades. This project will focus on resurfacing West 3rd Street (from Franklin Road to Patterson Drive), replacing damaged sidewalk panels, and adding accessible pedestrian curb ramps. New pavement markings will also be implemented, including a painted buffer between the bicycle lane and motor vehicle lanes from Franklin Road to Landmark Avenue. For added pedestrian safety, a mountable truck apron will be installed in the southwest corner of the intersection of 3rd Street and Patterson Drive. Funding for this project is provided through the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) Community Crossings Matching Grant Program.
“The planned maintenance and safety improvements are critical to ensuring our infrastructure meets the needs of our growing community,” says Andrew Cibor, Director of Engineering. “These projects will not only improve the quality and safety of our roads but also enhance accessibility for all residents and visitors.”
Both projects are expected to utilize temporary lane closures during construction. The City of Bloomington encourages drivers to exercise particular caution in construction work zones. Further details will be provided as the projects progress.
