Board of Public Works approves multiple engineering contracts, permits and $9.13M in claims

The Bloomington City Board of Public Works voted Jan. 27 to approve a set of engineering contracts, lane and sidewalk closures, a noise-permit authorization and claims totaling $9,133,554.14.

Kevin Okonoke of City Engineering described an amendment to the city's 2022 design contract with WSP Inc. to capture additional design efforts and extra work required by the Indiana Department of Transportation and ADA technical reviews. "This is a contract amendment that essentially is capturing what I've broken down into four different categories," Okonoke said, listing INDOT coordination, stormwater ordinance–driven analysis, redesign coordination with concurrent projects and additional survey work.

The board also approved a preliminary-engineering contract with Crossroad Engineers PC for the Hopewell South project, a package meant to fund roadway, utilities, drainage and subdivision design (not individual home designs). Okonoke said the Crossroad contract is set at a not-to-exceed amount of $424,200 and that the project is expected to use TIF funds pending Redevelopment Commission approval.

Engineering staff approved an extension request from Duke Energy to lengthen lane and sidewalk closures on West 11th Street, moving the target finish date to March 31, 2026, after weather and access issues delayed the work. Zach Bell of engineering said biweekly checks showed the contractor had encountered site complications and limited progress.

The board approved a one-week-per-side sidewalk replacement permit for Clark Landscaping at 1004 West 1st Street; the work stems from a deteriorating-sidewalk notification and the applicant submitted maintenance-of-traffic plans and a pedestrian detour.

For 115 East Kirkwood, the board approved a set of closures, intermittent lane shifts, metered-parking reservations and a related noise-permit authorization connected to utility relocations and the construction of condominiums with ground-floor retail. Engineering staff said temporary traffic-control measures and pedestrian diversions will remain in place through phases of the project; staff also requested director-level approval to schedule specific early-morning concrete pours under the noise-permit authority.

The board approved the claims docket by roll call in the amount of $9,133,554.14.

Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda (resolutions 2026-07 and 2026-08): Approved by roll call. - WSP Inc. contract amendment (West 2nd Street modernization): Approved by roll call. - Crossroad Engineers PC contract (Hopewell South prelim. engineering): Approved, not-to-exceed $424,200; approval contingent on TIF funding considerations. - Duke Energy extension (West 11th Street): Approved; new target completion 03/31/2026 (30 working-day extension). - Clark Landscaping (1004 West 1st Street closures): Approved; sidewalk replacement, pedestrian detour, one week per side estimated. - Odyssey Construction (115 East Kirkwood closures and lane shifts): Approved; project schedule through 07/28/2027 with phased pedestrian diversions and intermittent night/early-morning work under noise-permit conditions. - Resolution 2026-09 (authorization to schedule noise permits at 115 East Kirkwood): Approved; delegates execution for specified concrete pours to engineering director or public works director. - Claims: Approved, $9,133,554.14.

Board members present recorded aye votes during roll calls for the listed motions. Where motions were moved and seconded in the record, the mover and seconder were not identified by full name in the transcript and are listed in the official minutes as "moved" and "seconded."

The board did not receive substantive public opposition during the meeting; staff said they had held neighbor meetings for the Kirkwood development and will continue weekly coordination with property owners and contractors.

The board adjourned after approving the claims docket.