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Board approves lane closures, pedestrian diversions for Bloomington Convention Center redevelopment
Summary
The Board of Public Works approved a multi-phase traffic control plan for the Bloomington Convention Center redevelopment that will convert lanes, reserve parking and place pedestrian walk-arounds; the work is expected to span through 2026 and will be coordinated with multiple project partners.
The Board of Public Works on Wednesday approved lane closures, parking reservations and pedestrian diversions needed for the Bloomington Convention Center redevelopment, a multi-phase construction project that city and contractor staff said will have intermittent impacts on downtown traffic and pedestrian routes.
City Public Works Director Adam Wason said the project “is a project about partnership,” and described long planning efforts with the capital improvement board and private contractors that feed into a construction schedule requiring traffic controls. Weddell Brothers project manager Andrew Sherry presented the city’s phase 1 maintenance-of-traffic plan, which includes converting the southern eastbound lane of Third Street between Madison Street and College Avenue to a right-turn-only lane, parking reservations on College Avenue between Third Street and Smith Avenue, and closures of lanes on Third and Walnut streets to create pedestrian detours.
The board was told the phase 1 traffic plan is the “default” configuration for the early work and that most changes would occur only infrequently; Mr. Sherry said the on-street work for the initial phases is planned to begin at the end of the month and that the contractor expects the visible MOT configuration to remain largely consistent until early 2026. Sherry said the construction schedule spans roughly two years, with most on-street MOT work planned to be complete by Dec. 31, 2026, and some renovation work continuing into 2027.
Board members pressed staff and contractors on pedestrian access and accessibility. Mr. Sherry said pedestrian walk-arounds will be maintained with a five-foot clear path where possible and that several detours will route pedestrians into lanes temporarily to maintain accessible routes. Mr. Wason said the permit will require the contractor and the project owner to keep pedestrian facilities open and maintained — including during winter weather — and that the contractor or the capital improvement board will be responsible for clearing and maintaining those temporary walk routes, not adjacent property owners.
Chris Cioli of Guadalupe Brothers, a project partner, said the construction team will push updates through social media and other channels and asked that parties coordinate messaging so residents receive timely notice of traffic changes. Mr. Wason and contractor representatives said they are coordinating communications with the capital improvement board’s owner’s representative, JS Held, and local partners to align detours with other nearby projects, including upcoming Second Street work.
The board approved the lane closure and sidewalk diversion permit by roll call. Board members Caron and Cox Deckard recorded “aye” votes during the roll call recorded in the meeting minutes.
The permit documents discussed an end date for the traffic controls of Jan. 23, 2026, as part of a multi-phase schedule, and Mr. Sherry said the broader construction timeline projects significant activity through Dec. 2026 with additional interior renovations in 2027. Specific closure dates for some later detours will be brought to the board for separate approval when required.
The board and staff emphasized continued coordination on pedestrian accessibility, football-season scheduling and potential snow-season impacts as the project progresses.
