The Bloomington City Board of Public Works on July 29 approved a two-phase right-of-way closure for the West Second Street modernization project and a separate contract for utility staking.

The board voted to allow CBU to close portions of West Second Street in two phases: phase one from about 8 p.m. Aug. 3 to 6 a.m. Aug. 4, and phase two starting 6 a.m. Aug. 4 and continuing through Aug. 15. Kyle Ball, an engineer representing CBU, said, "This work is being requested as part of the Second Street modernization project." He described detour routing using Walnut to Third, then Third to Rogers and routing back to First for the northbound flow for phase one, and routes using Rogers, College and First for phase two.

Board members asked about continuous closures for phase two and whether nearby businesses had been notified. Ball said CBU coordinated with affected businesses, including Kroger and Wendy's, and that the contractor produced a traffic-control plan intended to keep drive-through traffic moving.

Separately, the board approved a contract with Smith Design Group for utility staking "for $7,500 not to exceed," Kendall Kenoki of the engineering department said. Kenoki said utility staking is the step in the INDOT process that lets utilities identify future roadway locations so they do not conflict with work. He told the board most utilities would begin work shortly after staking is complete and estimated the staking would start as soon as a notice to proceed is issued and finish in roughly two weeks. He added that several utilities will apply for separate permits and that those closures will return to the board for approval.

Board members and staff said the staking and closures are expected to produce more permit requests and lane or sidewalk restrictions in August and September, with the construction contract for West Second Street anticipated to be awarded in the fall. The motion to approve both the closure request and the staking contract passed on roll call votes from Carone, Roach and Cox Deckard.

The board did not receive public comments on either item at the meeting.