Bloomington, Indiana – A stretch of West 2nd Street that connects downtown movement, transit access and Bloomington’s growing Hopewell area is set for a major transformation beginning in the first week of June.
The City of Bloomington will launch construction on its $6.3 million West 2nd Street Modernization and Safety Improvement Project, bringing a broad package of upgrades to the corridor between the B-Line Trail and Walker Street. The work is designed to make the roadway safer and easier to use for people traveling by foot, bicycle, bus, car or mobility device, while also replacing infrastructure that has aged over time.
One of the most visible changes will be the creation of a two-way protected bicycle lane. It will run from the B-Line Trail westward to the 2nd/Bloomfield multi-use path at Walker Street, building a more direct connection through an area where public improvements and new neighborhood activity are already taking shape.
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The project will reach far beyond bicycle access. Traffic signals will be replaced at the intersections of 2nd Street and Walker Street, as well as 2nd Street and Rogers Street. New storm sewer infrastructure will be installed along the corridor, and the roadway will be resurfaced. Pedestrians will see improvements to sidewalks, curb ramps and crosswalks, along with new street trees and pedestrian-scale lighting intended to create a more welcoming street environment.
Transit riders will also see changes. Four bus stop locations will receive accessible level boarding improvements, completed in coordination with Bloomington Transit. Those upgrades support the goals of the Transform BT Strategic Plan, while improving access for riders using wheelchairs, walkers, strollers or other mobility equipment.
The West 2nd Street project is closely tied to broader plans already moving forward in Bloomington. The improvements follow recommendations identified for the corridor in the City’s 2019 Transportation Plan. They also support redevelopment of the former IU Health hospital site into the Hopewell Neighborhood and complement planned improvements connected to Building Trades Park and its master plan.
Construction, however, will bring temporary changes for travelers. Residents should prepare for lane restrictions, adjusted traffic patterns, detours and short-term closures of the B-Line Trail during different phases of the work.
The first anticipated B-Line Trail closure is expected to last one day in early June. Additional closures lasting approximately five days are expected in late July and again in mid-September. The City noted that those schedules may change depending on weather, construction progress and operational needs.
A larger traffic adjustment is expected beginning in August. At that point, crews anticipate establishing a one-way maintenance-of-traffic pattern on West 2nd Street. Eastbound traffic between Walker Street and Morton Street will be redirected to 1st Street, while westbound traffic will remain open along 2nd Street. The intersection of 2nd Street and Rogers Street is also expected to close completely for up to seven days, with the timing to be announced later.
As construction advances through the summer, the work will be coordinated with other projects taking place across Bloomington. Travelers are advised to plan for delays, follow posted detours and remain alert when moving through work zones.
When complete, the West 2nd Street corridor will carry more than traffic. It will offer safer connections, renewed infrastructure and stronger access to neighborhoods, parks, trails and transit in a part of the city continuing to change.
