Summer Construction Season Continues with Paving Projects and Street Improvements

Bloomington, Ind.–  The City of Bloomington continues with 19 asphalt paving projects this summer, while simultaneously working on one-time projects and repairs. Residents may look ahead to upcoming projects or get a comprehensive view of paving projects over time on an interactive online map on the City’s website.

“Keeping our city streets fully functional and attractive is a budget priority,” said Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton. “While urgent repairs and long-term projects tend to happen on their own schedules, improving and maintaining streets throughout Bloomington’s neighborhoods is something we are committed to doing on a regular rotation. The interactive map on the website makes it easy for residents to track our progress.”      

The City allocated $561,000 for the purchase of asphalt in the 2018 budget, and over 13,000 tons of asphalt are being used to complete this year’s paving projects. This month, East Buick Cadillac Boulevard and East Second Street between South High Street and South Woodscrest Drive have been paved, and East Atwater Avenue and East Windermere Woods Drive have been milled in preparation for a layer of new asphalt. Smith Road south of East Third Street is next in the schedule of paving projects.  

As part of the Street Department’s routine infrastructure maintenance, the roundabout at Sare and Rogers Roads will be closed overnight Sunday, July 1, and Monday, July 2, to allow for pavement markings. In addition, 8,346 potholes have been patched so far this season, and repairs on sidewalks along North Lincoln Street and in the Tamarron neighborhood have started this week.

The City also alerts travelers near campus that Indiana University will be repairing sidewalks adjacent to university-owned properties, restricting traffic on Atwater Avenue to one lane from June 27 to August 8.

In addition, City of Bloomington Utilities (CBU) has completed a major repair of a stormwater culvert underneath the 800 block of West Kirkwood Avenue that collapsed April 10. Although the culvert was temporarily covered with steel plates, and traffic on the busy thoroughfare resumed within hours of the collapse, CBU closed the street June 25-27 to complete permanent repairs on the culvert and the street above.  

Construction is proceeding in a timely manner on the sanitary sewer installation at Grimes and Walnut, thanks to extended work hours. The CBU project that began June 4 is slated for completion August 4, weather permitting, in time for the new school year. The pace of work has been accelerated with a schedule of ten-hour days and six-day weeks.

The City of Bloomington and City of Bloomington Utilities appreciate residents’ patience during these projects, and also remind all forms of traffic, whether pedestrian, bicycle or motor vehicle, to pay attention to their surroundings and the safety of those working on road projects.

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