City Responds to Storm Damage to Trees; 17th Street Multiuse Path Progress; and Bloomington Streets are Being Resurfaced

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. The City makes every effort to provide residents and visitors with updated and accurate information though all projects schedules are weather dependent.

 

 

PARKS & RECREATION

 

Storm Damage to Trees-

The Parks & Recreation Department, and the Street Division of the Public Works Department, have spent hundreds of hours responding to more than 250 calls from community members regarding damage to trees along streets, trails, and in other public spaces that occurred during a series of storms that began June 25. According to Haskell Smith, the City of Bloomington Urban Forester, four- and five-person crews from both Parks & Recreation and the Street Division cleaned up limbs and trees, and hauled the debris to the City's current green waste facility near Ferguson Dog Park for future processing.

 

Smith said the June 29 storm event, being called a "derecho," or widespread, straight-line wind storm, affected living trees whose leaves caught the wind. According to weather reports, winds reached speeds of up to 49 miles per hour, the point at which even healthy, living trees begin to fail. 

 

The Parks & Recreation Department's urban forestry program manages thousands of trees along city streets, in public rights of way, and in city parks. For more information about the urban forestry program, or to inquire about whether a tree is located on private or city property, visit the City's online tree inventory website, Treekeeper, at bloomington.in.gov/treecare or contact the Urban Forester at smithh@bloomington.in.gov. 

 

 

ENGINEERING

 

17th St (Monroe to Walnut)– 

A multiuse path is being constructed along the north side of the street and accessible sidewalk curb ramps are being installed. The street will be resurfaced and the existing traffic signal at the intersection of 17th St at Madison St/Kinser Pike has been replaced. Construction began in April and is anticipated to be completed by the end of the year. Paving and signal installation will continue through this week and the intersection is anticipated to be open to traffic on Monday, July 17th.  The project will continue to the west with a closure to eastbound traffic on 17th St from Monroe St to Maple St.   More information is available on the project webpage at: https://bton.in/1D30T

 

Henderson St (2nd to Smith) Neighborhood Greenway Connection-

Henderson St between 2nd St and Smith Ave is back open to traffic. This section of road changed from two northbound lanes to a single northbound lane. More information is available on the project webpage at: https://bloomington.in.gov/engineering/projects/henderson-hunter

 

Allen St (Walnut to Patterson) Neighborhood Greenway

Bump outs, rain gardens and speed cushions have been installed on Allen St between Walnut St and Patterson St. Street signage and pavement markings are expected to be installed by the end of this week. 

 

Winslow Resurfacing Project-

Work is progressing on this project that includes the milling and resurfacing of Winslow Rd from Walnut St to Allendale Dr. The intersection of Winslow Rd and Allendale Dr is being reconfigured as part of this project. Several ADA ramps along Winslow Rd are being updated. Lane closures are in place during construction utilizing flaggers. Milling should be complete on Winslow Rd between Walnut St and Allendale Dr and paving should begin this week. Pavement markings should be installed early next week. More information is available on the project webpage at: https://bloomington.in.gov/engineering/projects/winslowresurfacing

 

3rd St Resurfacing Project –

Sidewalk ramp replacements continue along 3rd St and milling and paving on 3rd St, between Overhill Dr and Eagleson Ave, will begin in approximately a week.

 

N Walnut St (14th to 17th) 

N Walnut St from 14th St to 17th St will have a lane closure for utility work from July 17th through August 11th. This work is associated with the new development project on 14th St east of N Walnut St (The Standard).

 

N Kinser Pike (17th to the Bypass)

N Kinser Pike from 17th St to the Bypass will be fully closed for utility work near Brookdale Dr from July 17th through August 1st. Local access will be maintained. This work is associated with the new development project west of Kinser Pike and south of Gourley Pike (The Arch).

 

Duke Energy - 

Duke Energy is continuing to work on Phase 3 of the Bloomington Reliability Project. N Rogers St from Kirkwood Ave to 11th St will have full closures in place through the end of next week for utility work. Following that, there will be intermittent, short duration lane closures until September 30th. The project will wrap up with restoration work continuing to the end of November. The closures will be in S Rogers St south of Patterson St, Patterson St east of S Rogers St , S Morton St north of Patterson St, Madison St from the Convention Center to 4th St, 4th St to S Rogers St, Rogers St from 4th St to 10th St, Fairview St from the B-Line to 11th St, and 11th St from Fairview to N Rogers.

 

 

PUBLIC WORKS

 

Resurfacing Projects–

During the week of July 17th, weather permitting, the Department of Public Works Street Division crews are scheduled to begin resurfacing on N Rogers St from W Kirkwood Ave to N 11th St and W 7th St from N Rogers St to N Fairview St.  The Division will prep streets prior to resurfacing and will have restrictions during work hours (7 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Signage will be posted. View an interactive map of 2023 paving projects at: bton.in/tpNzZ

 

Sidewalk Projects-

Department of Public Works Street Division crews are scheduled to begin a sidewalk construction project on W 13th St from N Fairview St to N Maple St.