FOR RELEASE: Heart Improvement Plan will close the intersection of Garfield Avenue and 4th Street on May 27
City of Loveland, Colorado
MEDIA RELEASE
CONTACTS: Illianna Milldrum, Communication and Engagement Specialist, 970-962-2608, Illianna.Milldrum@cityofloveland.org
Heart Improvement Plan will close the intersection of Garfield Avenue and 4th Street on May 27
LOVELAND, Colo. – May 20, 2025 – The Heart Improvement Plan will begin waterline tie-ins at the intersection of Garfield Avenue and 4th Street on Tuesday, May 27, weather permitting. To complete the waterline improvements, the intersection will be closed for approximately four weeks.
The Heart Improvement Plan’s 4th Street Revitalization began Block 5 construction on May 12. Initial activities included removal of the roadway surface and curb and gutter in preparation of waterline replacement activities.
The project’s general working hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. While the project is under construction along 4th Street, sidewalks remain open to pedestrians traveling on 4th Street between Railroad Avenue and N. Garfield Avenue. Business entrances remain open throughout construction.
Why will the Garfield and 4th Street intersection be closed for four weeks?
The intersection will be temporarily closed to connect a new water main on 4th street to the existing water main in the intersection. Additionally, a local utility vendor will be relocating a gas line to allow the construction of a new storm sewer line.
Will the intersection at Garfield Avenue and 4th Street be closed for the duration of the Block 5 improvements?
The intersection will be closed for approximately four weeks. After the utility improvements are completed, the intersection will open to vehicular traffic. However, from W. Railroad to N. Garfield Avenue, the roadway will remain closed to finish Phases 1A and 1B.
What are the detour routes when the intersection of Garfield Avenue and 4th Street are closed?
During the temporary closure, motorists are encouraged to use E. 7th Street, E. 1st Street, Lincoln Avenue and Cleveland Avenue. Local access and parking lots will be maintained for those within the construction zone. Commuters should plan their routes accordingly and expect delays.
What’s next for Block 5?
Utility work on Block 5 will begin with the installation of a new water main and its connection to the existing line at the Garfield intersection. Once the new main is connected, crews will start linking water services and fire lines from nearby businesses to the new main on 4th Street.
Why is Block 5 overlapping with Blocks 1 and 2?
In partnership with the DDA and local business owners, the construction schedule was designed to minimize disruption to local businesses while maximizing construction efficiencies by dividing the project into five blocks. Construction began with Block 1 and Block 2 followed by construction on Block 5, Block 3, and Block 4. Throughout the project, construction on different blocks will overlap, with work starting on some blocks while others are still in progress.
When will Blocks 1 and 2 be completed?
Each phase, including Phase 1A and Phase 1B, is expected to last between six and eight months total with Blocks 1 and 2 scheduled for completion in late fall 2025.
Why will W. Cleveland Avenue to Painters Alley be temporarily closed?
Starting the first week of June, Pourhouse will require a full block closure to install a new fire line as part of their expansion. This work is necessary for them to obtain a certificate of occupancy. As a result, the road will be temporarily closed from W. Cleveland Avenue to Painters Alley for approximately a week. Although the road will be temporarily closed, pedestrian and business access will be maintained throughout this work.
How are businesses being supported during the Heart Improvement Plan’s 4th Street revitalization project?
As construction progresses along 4th Street, the City of Loveland and Loveland Downtown Development Authority are dedicated to providing comprehensive support to downtown businesses during construction. To help business owners effectively communicate with customers about key details such as construction schedules, road closures, parking options, and project outcomes, a Downtown Loveland Business Owner’s Toolkit has been developed. This toolkit includes customizable Canva templates for social media, print signage, parking maps, and FAQs, along with communication tips to help businesses share important updates with customers throughout the construction process. Downtown Business Owners are encouraged to visit downtownloveland.org/heart-improvement-plan to access this toolkit.
How to stay in the loop?
Additional project details including construction phasing maps, images and other project updates, can be found at lovgov.org/HIPStreets. To stay informed throughout construction, stakeholders can sign up for the Heart Improvement Plan project newsletter at go.lovgov.org/SubscribetoHIP. For questions about this project or to contact the project team, call Public Works at 970-962-2524 or email HIPStreets@CityofLoveland.org.
About
In 2009, the City of Loveland Public Works Department developed the conceptual plan for the Heart Improvement Plan (HIP Streets), which explored opportunities to enhance the streets within the historic core of Downtown Loveland. In 2017, after gathering public input, the plan was modernized to include a thoughtful and cost-effective approach to revitalizing 19 core blocks of Downtown Loveland.
The first phase of the Heart Improvement Plan – the 4th Street Revitalization – addresses the five blocks along 4th Street that extend from N. Garfield Avenue to N. Washington Avenue. The current effort is focused on improving 4th Street through streetscape enhancements, while the City of Loveland Water and Power Department works on upgrades to the utility infrastructure beneath the road. As this project is a significant effort, the City of Loveland and the Loveland Downtown Development Authority (DDA) have come together to finally bring this portion of the Heart Improvement Plan to fruition.
Project Funding
The Loveland City Council, with a unanimous vote, approved the Certificates of Participation (COPs) financing method providing funding for the Heart Improvement Plan’s 4th Street Revitalization project on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. The project will be funded using a combination of Utility Enterprise Funds and COPs. Utility Enterprise Funds (Stormwater, Water, and Power) will provide $12 million of the project cost, with the remaining $12.5 million funded by COPs. The total estimated program cost for the project is $24.5 million. No General Funds will be utilized or allocated to construct this project.
