Transportation officials say they’ve made good progress in the first six months of construction on Market Street on Bloomington’s west side, with plans to wrap up next spring after a winter shutdown.
This $9.3 million project is the first of several planned improvements on Illinois 9 through Bloomington. For this project, crews are patching and resurfacing Market Street [aka Illinois 9] from Sugar Creek just east of the interstate exit past the railroad tracks to Hinshaw Avenue, then a short jog up to Locust Street. They’re also putting in new sidewalks, curb ramps, curbs, gutters and traffic lights.
Drivers and pedestrians have certainly noticed — or tried to avoid — the lane reductions and other disruptions along that stretch of Market that sees 20,000 to 25,000 vehicles per day. About 15 to 25 construction crew members are working there on site every day.
“We ask that you just be patient. Obey all the traffic signals. And understand that this is going to create a better situation,” said Ken Crawford, project implementation engineer for the Illinois Department of Transportation [IDOT] District 5. “We do the best we can. It’s obviously difficult because we need space to work.”
Construction began in mid-May, but there have been some delays. Utilities have been a particular challenge, Crawford said. They’re still waiting for a gas line to be lowered so crews can finish up work and reopen White Oak Road near the railroad tracks, Crawford said.
“Those just cause delays and keep pushing us back into November, when the weather’s not so favorable,” he said.
There are other unique challenges, including two truck stops in the area. To mitigate disruption for drivers, crews have widened out lanes and coordinated traffic lights to reduce the odds of vehicles backing up through intersections, Crawford said. Crews also have communicated often with nearby businesses about when their driveway entrances will be worked on, he said.
“They’re using high early concrete mixes, so when they get the concrete poured, we can drive on it soon,” Crawford said. “It’s just a lot of communication.”
There also will be construction of a new sidewalk on the bridge over Sugar Creek.
“The [Americans with Disabilities Act] of 1990 requires all the curb ramps and sidewalk to be upgraded to a certain standard. It hadn’t been done here in a while. With all the work we’re putting here with the sidewalks, people with disabilities will have access to more and without hazards,” Crawford said.
Plenty has already been done. Crews have milled and paved Market Street west of the railroad tracks, and done all the curb and gutter there, too. A city-owned water main has been relocated. Some retaining walls near residences are done. But they’re running out of workable days before winter weather sets in.
IDOT hopes to reopen White Oak Road [which is closed at Market] by the end of the year, Crawford said. Electrical crews will spend the winter finishing four new traffic signals in the area, as most other construction is paused due to weather. Crews will pick things up again around March. Paving will happen in the spring.
The hope is to finish the project by the end of May, Crawford said.
