First Section of Newly-Constructed Griffy Loop Trail Open; Traffic Pattern Around the Hidden River Project Has Changed; and Traffic Calming Speed Cushions Are Installed

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 the impact on Bloomington residents and visitors. 

 

 

PARKS & RECREATION

 

B-Line Trail

The Parks and Recreation Department will begin trimming overgrown trees and brush on the south end of the B-Line Trail south of Switchyard Park during the week of July 18. While the B-Line Trail will remain open, trail users are asked to exercise caution when passing Parks and Recreation crews working along the trail. One lane of the trail may close periodically to accommodate tree trimming.

 

First Section of the Griffy Loop Trail Open

The first .5-mile section of the Griffy Loop Trail, leading up a newly constructed wooden staircase on the steep slope south of the Griffy Lake causeway, is open for use. The natural surface trail follows the contour of the hillside and connects to the existing trails on the nearby IU Research and Teaching Preserve. Trail users are reminded to stay on marked trails, keep dogs on a leash, and practice safe hiking and leave no trace principles while using the trails at Griffy Lake. 

 

Lower Cascades Park

A new guardrail along Old State Road 37 North through Lower Cascades Park was added last week to permanently close the access to the concrete spillway across Cascade Creek. The temporary gate behind the guardrail will be removed. Vehicle access to the old gravel parking lot, across the concrete spillway, was removed to improve safety for both vehicle operators and for people using the concrete spillway to access Cascade Creek. The gravel parking lot west of the spillway was removed and will be converted to greenspace. The Waterfall Shelter is accessible for people of all abilities via the parking lot immediately south of the Lower Cascades Playground and pedestrian bridge over Cascade Creek.

 

The Waldron, Hill, and Buskirk Park

Repairs to the performance stage columns have begun. The project contractor is deconstructing the existing columns, and is working with structural engineers to re-design and construct new columns.  Crews will be working in the park through August to complete the work.

 

 

UTILITIES

 

Hidden River Pathway Project

The two-year downtown stormwater infrastructure reconstruction project to address flooding during rain events continues. 

Last week the contractor poured the top of the precast culvert section extending into Grant Street. They paved 4th Street and the parking lot at the Allison Jukebox Community Center on Washington Street. Duke and AT&T have completed their work in the alley between Trinity Church and Long Fei restaurant and telephone poles were removed. This week the contractor, Milestone, will be excavating between Trinity and Long Fei and pouring concrete curbs.

The traffic pattern has changed as 4th Street was paved. Currently, Lincoln is reopened from 3rd to 4th Streets, so the intersection of Lincoln and 4th is reopened as well. 4th Street will remain closed from Lincoln to Grant and Grant will be closed from 4th to the alley at Trinity. The alley on the east side of Grant between Trinity and Long Fei will be closed. Starting Monday July 25th, Grant will also be closed from the alley to Kirkwood.

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.

 

 

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. Weather permitting, the project will be complete in early August.

 

 

PUBLIC WORKS

 

Street Paving

Paving on 7th Street from Union to the bike and pedestrian tunnel underneath the 45/46 bypass is complete. Crews will mill Jefferson from 10th Street to 3rd Street this week. ADA-compliant ramp work on Jefferson will be complete this week. Next week crews will be paving on Jefferson and a concrete crew will be installing ADA-compliant ramps on 2nd Street from High Street to Swain.  

 

 

Engineering

 

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 by the end of July.  Final work tasks to be completed over the upcoming weeks include final paving, installation of pavement markings, power hook up coordination with Duke, and signal activation. 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 is expected to start this week. 

 

Hopewell Phase 1 East Demo

The City anticipates demolition activities as identified in the Hospital Site Master Plan may start as early as late July at the Hopewell Phase 1 East project site bounded by 2nd Street to the north, 1st Street to the south, B-Line to the east, and Rogers Street to the west. Some activities such as equipment mobilization, and building preparations for demolition may begin this week and the installation of site fencing will likely happen next week. The City ITS Department recently took aerial photos of the site that will be updated during the course of the project to document the transformation of the area.  Additional information about the project and the contractor can be found at the following links: https://bton.in/mRp~I, hopewellbloomington.org & renascentinc.com. The Hospital Site Redevelopment Master Plan is available at https://bton.in/mlLbk.

 

IU Poplars Building Demo

During their July 19th meeting, the Bloomington Public Works Department approved daytime road closures on Grant and Dunn to support IU’s contractor during the demolition phase of the Indiana University Poplars Building on 7th Street, west of campus. The project will not involve any impacts to the City’s recently completed 7-Line project.

 

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 bloomington.in.gov/engineering/projects/crosswalks.

 

Dunn St Sidewalk

Construction of a new sidewalk and tree plot on N Dunn Street began July 13th. The public may have noticed temporary traffic control between 15th and 17th Streets, to accommodate construction activity, which includes a detour for southbound traffic on N Dunn to Indiana Avenue. This week demolition activities have taken place and the contractor is preparing to install a portion of new curb by the end of this week. Additional information about the project and the contractor can be found at bloomington.in.gov/engineering/projects/dunnsidewalk. 

 

Neighborhood Greenways 

The City’s project to construct traffic calming along E 7th Street, Graham Drive, and Ralston Avenue is expected to be substantially complete by the end of July. This week's highlight includes the installation of the asphalt speed cushions along Graham and Ralston Avenue. Final work tasks to be completed over the upcoming weeks include final paving on 7th Street, installation of signs and pavement markings, and installation of rectangular rapid flashing beacons at the intersections of Graham at Rogers and Rockport. Additional information about the project and contractor can be found at bloomington.in.gov/engineering/projects/ralstongraham.