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Bloomington Board of Public Works approves multiple engineering contracts, utility closures and $2.48M in claims
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Summary
At its March 10 meeting the Bloomington Board of Public Works approved an amendment to an REA on-call engineering contract, a consulting agreement for downtown curb ramps, several right-of-way closure requests for utility work and claims totaling $2,481,592.50. Staff said closures would be phased and coordinated with schools and transit.
The Bloomington Board of Public Works on March 10 approved a series of contracts and right-of-way closure requests intended to support resurfacing and downtown accessibility projects, utility relocations ahead of modernization work, and routine claims totaling $2,481,592.50.
Neil Copper of the city engineering department introduced Amendment 3 to an existing on-call engineering agreement with REA, saying, “The amendment increases the total amount by $100,000 for a new total not to exceed $404,143.60,” to allow continued engineering support on resurfacing designs and other public-works projects. The board moved, seconded and approved the amendment by roll call.
Copper also presented a new LPA consulting agreement with REA for design work on downtown curb ramps and crosswalk improvements along East Third Street and Atwater Avenue adjacent to the IU campus. The contract is set at a not-to-exceed amount of $271,490; Copper said construction is anticipated in 2029 and that the project is programmed in the Metropolitan Planning Organization for federal funding for design and construction. The board approved the agreement by roll call.
Staff presented several right-of-way closure requests tied to utility and development work. Kyle (engineering staff) said Miller Pipeline, on behalf of CenterPoint Energy, requested sidewalk, lane and alley closures on West Second Street from South Walker to South Maple to relocate utilities ahead of the Second Street modernization project; the closures were requested for March 16–May 31 with staged, phased lane closures and coordination planned with Bloomington Transit and MCCSC. A related motion to approve the CenterPoint closures passed by roll call.
A sidewalk closure requested by FA Wilhelm at the Poplar's (Beverly) development, 400 East Seventh Street, for façade work and final landscaping (proposed March 18–April 10) was also approved after a public comment period (see separate item on public concerns about pedestrian detours). Zach Bell presented a request from Heidecker Wheatley Company to extend a right-of-way permit for Fritz Terrace gas-main modernization from 14 days to eight months to accommodate 15,035 linear feet of boring; staff said maintenance-of-traffic plans and door-hanger notifications were supplied and that Bloomington High School North had been notified. The board approved the extension.
Bell additionally described a Duke Energy request for approximately three weeks of lane and sidewalk closures on South Sarah Road to allow underground utility boring. Bell said the contractor had been directed to adjust start and end times to avoid school pickup and drop-off and that sidewalks would reopen each evening; the board approved the Duke Energy request.
Finally, a motion to approve claims in the amount of $2,481,592.50 was moved, seconded and approved by roll call. President Elizabeth Carone adjourned the meeting after other business concluded.
The approved projects include work that will require phased lane management and coordination with Bloomington Transit and Monroe County Community School Corporation; staff said they will continue outreach to affected properties and communities and will post signs and notices for impacted corridors. The board did not postpone or table any of the motions presented.
