Long anticipated Fullerton Pike connection work begins on Bloomington's southwest side

Boris Ladwig, The Herald-Times
·2 min read
A project to connect West Fullerton Pike to West Gordon Pike, which has been talked about for years, is finally getting started. It is expected to be complete by July 2026.
A project to connect West Fullerton Pike to West Gordon Pike, which has been talked about for years, is finally getting started. It is expected to be complete by July 2026.

Prep work has begun on a $19 million major east-west thoroughfare that local officials have discussed for decades.

The project to connect West Fullerton Pike with West Gordon Pike will include traffic signals, a roundabout, a multi-use path, a sidewalk and a 500-foot bridge.

Workers have done some drilling and excavation work in expectation of an August delivery of bridge beams, said Lisa Ridge, director of the Monroe County Highway Department.

The bridge will be built first, with crews starting on the west side, she said, before work on the road connection begins.

Ridge said the $18.8 million contract, which was awarded to Indianapolis-based Milestone Contractors, calls for the project to be completed by July 2026.

The project is being paid mostly with local funds, including $8 million that the department borrowed, additional funds from the local road and street fund and about $3 million in federal dollars.

As part of the project, the intersection at Fullerton Pike and Rockport Road will be closed starting July 8 for 90 days, though Ridge said the duration of the closure likely would be shorter.

The connection between Fullerton and Gordon pikes, at bottom left, in yellow, is expected to be completed by summer 2026.
The connection between Fullerton and Gordon pikes, at bottom left, in yellow, is expected to be completed by summer 2026.

Ridge has said the project will make it much easier for people to head from the city’s southwest side into Bloomington, including to Batchelor Middle School and the new library branch. In the other direction, residents will be able to more easily access Monroe Hospital, Leonard Springs Nature Park and neighborhoods west of Interstate 69.

She also has said local officials have discussed a southwest connection for more than 30 years and hope the easier access to and from the interstate will spur development in the area.

The project also will include:

  • A traffic signal at the Fullerton Pike/Rockport Road intersection.

  • A roundabout at the Batchelor/Clear View/Gordon Pike intersection.

  • A raised median measuring between 6 and 10 feet.

  • A 10-foot multi-use path on the north side.

  • A 5-foot sidewalk on the south side.

Boris Ladwig can be reached at bladwig@heraldt.com.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Construction on 2-year, $19M project Fullerton Pike project has begun