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In April 2026, City of Loveland Utilities will begin removing the power lines above Painter's Alley and relocating them underground to address aging infrastructure and safety conditions. The one-block alleyway in downtown Loveland is located between 3rd and 4th Streets and Cleveland and Railroad Avenues.
Years in the making, the underground project is part of a city-wide effort to maximize safety and reliability and minimize outages caused by high winds, severe weather and other threats such as wildfire. Underground power systems are a space-saving, cost-effective and reliable way to ensure that customers continue to get the power they depend on every day without interruption while creating a cleaner, more aesthetically-pleasing look for our city.
Approximately 87% of the electric power infrastructure in Loveland is already underground—an achievement that only a small number of cities across the U.S. can claim.
Project Scope
The team obtained a 553 square-foot easement for the infrastructure. Crew will dig trenches and bury the high-voltage power lines underground. The lines will be routed to a 7 by 14 foot underground vault that acts as a terminal by receiving the electric current. The vault will connect to two secondary connection cabinets above it that function as dedicated transformers. (The illustration, left, shows the projected above-ground cabinet placement, located on the easement in the middle of the alley.)
Instead of 16 transformers and 10 utility poles spread throughout the alley and obscuring the sky overhead—this new system will feature just two transformers capable of converting and providing electricity for the entire square block of Painter’s Alley. This hybrid installation is unique from totally underground power systems, and brings added advantages for safety, maintenance and resiliency.
Construction Updates
Any closures will be indicated here. Pedestrians and drivers, stay alert to detour signage to safely navigate the area during construction.
In coordination with the Heart Improvement Plan and Downtown Development Authority, the project team will work to minimize power disruptions for local businesses, and access disruptions for local vehicles and pedestrians. However, intermittent alley or lane closures should be expected throughout construction.
In April 2026, City of Loveland Utilities will begin removing the power lines above Painter's Alley and relocating them underground to address aging infrastructure and safety conditions. The one-block alleyway in downtown Loveland is located between 3rd and 4th Streets and Cleveland and Railroad Avenues.
Years in the making, the underground project is part of a city-wide effort to maximize safety and reliability and minimize outages caused by high winds, severe weather and other threats such as wildfire. Underground power systems are a space-saving, cost-effective and reliable way to ensure that customers continue to get the power they depend on every day without interruption while creating a cleaner, more aesthetically-pleasing look for our city.
Approximately 87% of the electric power infrastructure in Loveland is already underground—an achievement that only a small number of cities across the U.S. can claim.
Project Scope
The team obtained a 553 square-foot easement for the infrastructure. Crew will dig trenches and bury the high-voltage power lines underground. The lines will be routed to a 7 by 14 foot underground vault that acts as a terminal by receiving the electric current. The vault will connect to two secondary connection cabinets above it that function as dedicated transformers. (The illustration, left, shows the projected above-ground cabinet placement, located on the easement in the middle of the alley.)
Instead of 16 transformers and 10 utility poles spread throughout the alley and obscuring the sky overhead—this new system will feature just two transformers capable of converting and providing electricity for the entire square block of Painter’s Alley. This hybrid installation is unique from totally underground power systems, and brings added advantages for safety, maintenance and resiliency.
Construction Updates
Any closures will be indicated here. Pedestrians and drivers, stay alert to detour signage to safely navigate the area during construction.
In coordination with the Heart Improvement Plan and Downtown Development Authority, the project team will work to minimize power disruptions for local businesses, and access disruptions for local vehicles and pedestrians. However, intermittent alley or lane closures should be expected throughout construction.
The team obtained a 553 square-foot easement for the infrastructure. Crew will dig trenches and bury the high-voltage power lines underground. The lines will be routed to a 7 by 14 foot underground vault that acts as a terminal by receiving the electric current. The vault will connect to two secondary connection cabinets above it that function as dedicated transformers. (The illustration, left, shows the projected above-ground cabinet placement, located on the easement in the middle of the alley.)