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Board ratifies closure of Clubhouse Drive after inspection finds Bridge 317 unsafe
Summary
The Bloomington Board of Public Works on May 19 ratified closing Clubhouse Drive on both sides of Bridge 317 after an inspection found the structure required imminent repairs; the board said the city will keep the road closed until it is safe for vehicles and coordinate with county partners on next steps.
The Bloomington Board of Public Works unanimously ratified a temporary closure of Clubhouse Drive on May 19 after engineering and legal staff said an inspection showed Bridge 317 needs imminent repairs.
Audrey Brittenham of the city engineering department said the county legal department’s inspection report identified safety problems that make the bridge unsafe for vehicular traffic. "Engineering and consultation with the legal department and public works determined the bridge wasn't safe for vehicular traffic," Brittenham said, and staff closed the road approaches to keep vehicles off the structure.
Staff told the board the city is closing the road approaches rather than the bridge itself because the municipality does not currently believe it owns the bridge. Brittenham referenced Indiana Code §8-17-1-46(c) in explaining municipal responsibilities for bridges located inside corporate limits, with span lengths of 20 feet or less and not part of the state highway system.
Board member James Roach moved to approve Resolution 2026-028 ratifying the closure; Elizabeth Carone seconded. The roll call vote was Roach, aye; Carone, aye. Roach urged city and county staff to "bring this to a conclusion as soon as possible," asking for prompt coordination on repairs.
The resolution closes Clubhouse Drive on the east and west sides of Bridge 317 until the public works and engineering departments determine the roadway is safe for vehicular traffic. Staff said the next steps include follow-up coordination with county partners and repair planning; no timeline for repairs was specified in the meeting.
The board’s action formalizes the city’s immediate safety step and leaves further decisions about repair responsibility and schedule to subsequent engineering assessments and intergovernmental coordination.
