North Taft Avenue Water and Storm Improvements Project

Hello Loveland!

Here are our project updates and a look at upcoming work.

Progress Jan. 12-16

• Crews backfilled and completed asphalt patches at both locations where line stops were removed along 29^th Street.
• Another crew installed 16-inch water line from 28th Street south to Lake Drive, then east across N. Taft Avenue within Lake Drive. This will connect to the existing water line near the Thompson Ambulance facility after disinfection and pressure testing.
• Crews installed 2-inch and 3-inch temporary water service lines throughout Connecticut Place cul-de-sac and homes adjacent to N. Taft Avenue up to 20th Street.
  • Reminder: If placed on temporary water, you will not be charged for water usage; leave a tap open to prevent freezing of more vulnerable temporary lines. Frozen lines delay progress and can affect water service.

Week of Jan. 12: 8” PVC waterline construction in the intersection of N. Taft Avenue and 28th Street

Week of Jan. 12: 8” PVC waterline to tie-into Lake Drive

Jan 10: 29th Street line stop removal

Jan 15: Drone picture from above 29th Street shows paving progress and near completion along 29th Street

Upcoming work Jan. 19-23

• Expect brief lane shifts on 29^th Street on Wednesday for installation of a new fire hydrant and water service to the Thompson Rehabilitation Center.
• Begin constructing the 16-inch water line north along N. Taft Avenue from 20th Street.

Looking forward

• Heavy construction will focus on 18th–22nd and 25th–29th streets as crews install new 16-inch pipeline.
• Current detours will remain in place.

Working hours

Weather permitting, work activities are Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. with occasional Saturday work needed.

To contact the project team, call 970-962-3521 or email UtilitiesInfo@cityofloveland.org.

Thank you for your patience as we complete these improvements.

Hello Loveland!

Here are our project updates and a look at upcoming work.

Progress Jan. 5-10

• Pipeline work at the intersection is complete and most areas have been repaved.
• 29th Street is open to through traffic in both directions, but work areas remain coned off as crews finalize intersection work
• Additional work on the valve at the east end delayed pressure and water quality testing until later in the week; passing tests allowed removal of line stops over the weekend.
• As a reminder, water around work zones is normal; crews perform controlled releases during flushing, testing and sampling before lines go online.
• Along Taft, crews began digging between 28th and 29th streets to install pipeline south of the intersection and finished crossing 28th Street, which required a traffic flagger.
• Crews continued mobilizing along the corridor between 18th and 29th streets, performing saw cutting, potholing and material and concrete delivery.

Jan 8: Crews work to dig on Taft Avenue between 28th and 29th streets through cloudy winter weather

Jan. 9: Crews put in temporary paving as they make progress and install lines

Upcoming work Jan. 12-16

• Fill holes where line stops were removed early in the week and open 29th Street further.
• Install a fire hydrant just to the east of the intersection, requiring lane shifts for westbound traffic on 29th but no closures
• Begin digging at 20th Street and the southern end to install waterline from south to north; expect some digging outside the road for new meter pits.
• Set up temporary water service from Connecticut to 22nd Street by the end of the week (anticipated); if placed on temporary water, you will not be charged for water useage—leave a tap open to prevent freezing of more vulnerable temporary lines. Frozen lines delay progress and can affect water service.

Looking forward

• Heavy construction will focus on 18th–22nd and 25th–29th streets as crews install new 16-inch pipeline.
• Detours in place now will continue.

Working hours

Weather permitting, work activities are Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. with occasional Saturday work needed.

To contact the project team, call 970-962-3521 or email UtilitiesInfo@cityofloveland.org(External link).

Thank you for your patience as we complete these improvements.

City of Loveland, Colorado

MEDIA RELEASE

CONTACT: Tracey Hewson, Public Information Officer

970-962-3710,
Tracey.Hewson@cityofloveland.org

North Taft Avenue to close to through traffic during next phase of Taft Avenue Water and Storm Improvements Project

LOVELAND, Colo. – December 31, 2025 – The City of Loveland will begin the next phase of the North Taft Avenue Water and Storm Improvement Project next week, focusing on the corridor between 18th Street and 29th Street.

Construction at the intersection of 29th Street and Taft Avenue is nearing completion. Crews are finishing the bottom lift of asphalt today, with the final lift scheduled for Friday.

Beginning Monday, January 5, pipe and materials will be delivered along North Taft Avenue between 18th Street and 28th Street in preparation for upcoming work.

Lane closures at the 29th Street and Taft Avenue intersection will remain in place until early next week. Taft Avenue will then be closed between 18th Street and 29th Street, with the northbound lane remaining open for local access to businesses and residences.

Construction will generally take place between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, with occasional Saturday work as needed.

Funding

The project is primarily funded through enterprise funds for water and stormwater, which are supported by customer rates, charges and fees. In October 2025, the construction contract was awarded to T. Lowell Construction following a competitive bidding process. The winning bid estimated a total project cost of $7.093 million, including about $3.73 million for waterline work and $3.36 million for stormwater improvements. Additionally, the stormwater utility will receive $400,000 from enterprise transportation funds to support Lake Loveland bank restoration, which will benefit Taft Avenue.

Stay Informed

For project updates, including the option to sign up for weekly updates, detour maps and to ask questions or contact the project team visit letstalkloveland.org/taft-ave-water-storm-improvements.

You may also email: UtilitiesInfo@cityofloveland.org, or call 970-962-3521 (Water concerns) or 970-962-2773 (Stormwater concerns).

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Hello Loveland!

Here are our project updates to date with a look at upcoming work.

Progress Dec. 22-31

• Starting Dec. 22, crews were busy laying 24-inch waterline on 29th Street and 16-inch waterline along Taft Avenue and connected the lines by week’s end.
  • Work slowed as crews approached the intersection because of a large amount of known and unknown underground utilities that prevented the use of conventional excavators. Crews were forced to carefully snake and construct the new waterlines around these utilities.
• Since Monday, Dec. 29, crews have paved the bottom lift of asphalt in the intersection.
  • FYI: Asphalt pavements are not typically constructed in a single pour. Instead, they are built in successive layers (lifts) to achieve the required strength, support, and smoothness.
• Waterlines are being filled and pressure tested today.
• No work Jan. 1 for the New Year’s holiday.

Dec. 23: Aerial view of crews working from both the east and west directions on 29th Street

Dec. 31; First lift of asphalt in the intersection looking south on N. Taft Avenue

Dec 26: Construction of 16” water line lowering under a 600 volt electrical duct bank

Dec. 27: Connection of new 16” PVC water line into cross within the intersection

Upcoming work Jan. 2-9

• Jan. 2: Crews will finish the final lift of asphalt and disinfect new waterlines so they can go online.
• Jan 5: Intersection lanes will reopen as work finishes and equipment moves out, though lane shifts may continue while hydrant and water service are installed east of the intersection. Pipe and materials will also be delivered along North Taft Avenue between 18th and 29th streets.
• Jan. 6 or 7: Work shifts to Taft Avenue between 18th and 29th streets where crews will work both north and south in the work zone. Taft Avenue will close to through traffic in this area, with northbound local access only. Detours will be marked.

Detours

• Southbound traffic detours at 29th Street to U.S. 287 or Wilson Avenue.
• Northbound traffic faces a soft closure at U.S. 34. Through traffic should detour to U.S. 287 or Wilson Avenue while local traffic needing access to homes or businesses on Taft Avenue will be allowed through. Traffic on Taft Avenue will be a northbound only in a single lane between 18th and 29th streets.

Looking ahead

Detours for through traffic on Taft Avenue will remain through June 2026. Local traffic can expect changes as work progresses and may reopen certain sections. Any changes or openings will be clearly marked.

Working hours

Weather permitting, work activities are Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. with occasional Saturday work needed.

To contact the project team, call 970-962-3521 or email UtilitiesInfo@cityofloveland.org.

Thank you for your patience as we complete these improvements.

Hello Loveland!

Here are our project updates to date with a look at upcoming work.

Progress Dec. 15-19

• Work focused on all sides of the 29th Street and Taft Avenue intersection.
• Crews worked from the outer edges of their zones toward the center near the intersection.
• They excavated, trenched and installed a larger waterline on 29th Street.
• Crews installed a new valve along N. Taft Avenue on the north side of the intersection.

Installing a valve on N. Taft Avenue on Dec. 15

29th Street: A crane lowers in line stop equipment on the west side of the intersection on Dec. 15

Upcoming Work: Week of Dec. 22

• Major waterline installation across the intersection will begin next week. All remaining waterline for the intersection work is expected to be laid during the week.
• Two crews will be deployed, one laying remaining pipe east and west and another laying pipe north and south.
• Once all waterlines are laid, line stops placed along the pipeline on 29th Street on either side of the intersection will be removed.
• Traffic detours will be in place and clearly marked to guide drivers around the closures.
  • Drivers should avoid the intersection if possible.
  • Updated detour maps will be provided below for alternate routes.

Northbound traffic on N. Taft Avenue will be restricted to a right turn onto 29th Street and will need to use Garfield Avenue and 37th Street to reconnect with Taft Avenue and continue north.

Southbound traffic on N. Taft Avenue will encounter a hard closure at 29th Street and should detour earlier at 43rd Street to the west or 37th Street to the east around the construction. Local access to homes and businesses will be maintained along N. Taft Avenue between 37th Street and 29th Street.

Traffic on 29th Street will be eastbound only through the intersection. Eastbound traffic on 29th Street will have limited or no access for right turns or southbound travel onto N. Taft Avenue.

Westbound traffic on 29th Street will be restricted to a right turn onto N. Taft Avenue and will need to use 43rd Street to continue west.

Looking ahead: Week of Dec. 29

• Crews will pave and patch the intersection to prepare it for traffic again. As soon as they are able, weather permitting, they will reopen work zones and remove detours.

Working hours

Week of Dec. 22
Weather permitting, work will take place Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Crews will take Thursday, Dec. 25 off for the Christmas holiday. Work hours will be 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Week of Dec. 29
Weather permitting, work will take place Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Crews will take Thursday, Jan. 1 off for the New Year’s holiday. Work hours will be 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To contact the project team, call 970-962-3521 or email UtilitiesInfo@cityofloveland.org.

Thank you for your patience as we complete these improvements.

Hello Loveland!

Here are our project updates to date with a look at upcoming work.

Progress to Date:

Dec. 3–5:

• Crews began mobilizing on site.
• The City and T. Lowell held the first construction progress meeting on Dec. 3 to officially kick off the project (see photo, below).
• 
• Initial activities included staging equipment, painting markers, and beginning saw cutting.

Week of Dec. 8–12:

• Focus shifted to preparations for water line installation.
• Crews installed line stops along 29th Street.
• Temporary water service options were being prepared.
• Work concentrated on the east and west sides of the 29th Street & Taft Avenue intersection.
• Lane shifts were implemented on 29th Street to accommodate construction.

Crews lower in and set a line stop collar on Dec. 9.

Upcoming Work:

Week of Dec. 15–19

• Continued excavation and trenching activities.
• Installation of a valve and plug on the north and south sides of the intersection.
• Additional lane shifts on Taft Avenue will be added, concurrent with existing shifts on 29th Street.
• All directions of traffic will remain open, though drivers should expect minor delays and use caution in the work zone.

Looking Ahead:

Week of Dec. 22-26

Major waterline installation across the intersection begins.

PVC waterline pipe sits ready for installation on Dec. 9.

Traffic detours will be implemented:

• Westbound 29th Street as well as northbound and southbound Taft Avenue will be closed at the intersection.
• Detours will be clearly marked to guide drivers around the closure.
• Please refer to the detour map below for alternate routes.

Weather permitting, work activities are Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. with occasional Saturday work needed. To contact the project team, call 970-962-3521 or email UtilitiesInfo@cityofloveland.org.

Thank you for your patience as we complete these improvements!

City of Loveland, Colorado

MEDIA RELEASE

CONTACT: Tracey Hewson, Public Information Officer

970-962-3710,
Tracey.Hewson@cityofloveland.org

Construction to begin on North Taft Avenue Water and Storm Improvements Project

LOVELAND, Colo. – December 3, 2025 – Construction will begin by the end of this week on the North Taft Avenue Water and Storm Improvements Project, a major infrastructure effort designed to improve water service reliability and reduce flooding risks in northwest Loveland. The project is scheduled for completion by June 2026, weather permitting.

Crews will replace aging waterlines and stormwater infrastructure along North Taft Avenue from 18th Street through West 29th Street. Work includes installing a new 16-inch waterline to replace the existing 12-inch cast-iron pipe, which will help maintain systemwide pressure, improve long-term reliability and reduce service disruptions caused by line breaks. Stormwater upgrades will include installing new pipes, adding outlets to Lake Loveland to improve storm protection and reinforcing the lake’s west bank to prevent erosion and protect nearby infrastructure.

Preconstruction: Intersection Work at Taft Avenue and 29th Street

The first phase of work will occur at the Taft Avenue and 29th Street intersection, where crews will upsize aging infrastructure and install a larger waterline to increase capacity. New valves will also be added to help isolate future breaks and reduce service impacts.

Mobilization and prep work including equipment staging, pavement markings and saw cutting will take place Dec. 3–5. Minor lane shifts are expected during this period.

From Dec. 8–22, Crews will install line stops at two locations east and west of the intersection of 29th Street and Taft Avenue to prepare for pipe replacement. This work requires 24-hour, two-lane closures on 29th Street, reducing eastbound and westbound traffic to one lane in each direction. Temporary lane closures will also occur on Taft Avenue, though northbound and southbound access will remain open.

Dec. 22 through Jan. 4, pipe installation will require:

• Full closure of westbound 29th Street at Taft Avenue. Westbound 29th Street will be right turn only to northbound Taft Ave.
• Full closure of southbound Taft Avenue at 29th Street. Drivers may use detours at 37th Street or 43rd Street.
• Full closure of northbound Taft Avenue at 29th Street. Drivers may use detours at 29th Street.
• Lane shifts between 29th Street and 37th Street.

During intersection construction:

• Local access will be maintained for adjacent property owners
• Sidewalks will be closed
• Commuters are strongly encouraged to avoid the area
• Delays are expected, and drivers should allow extra travel time

Working hours will be Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and some Saturdays.

What’s Next: Taft Avenue Between 18th and 29th Streets

After intersection work is complete, construction will move to Taft Avenue between 18th and 29th streets. While the intersection and the section of Taft between 29th and 27th streets will reopen, Taft Avenue from 18th to 29th streets will fully close for continued replacement of waterline and stormwater infrastructure. Local and business access will be maintained.

About the Project

The North Taft Avenue Water and Storm Improvements Project is part of a multi-year effort to upgrade infrastructure along Taft Avenue from 11th Street to 29th Street. Recent work included the replacement of aging infrastructure was replaced at the U.S. 34 intersection, along with intersection improvements.

This phase continues replacement of aging systems to improve water quality and service reliability. Stormwater improvements are designed to reduce flooding risks, add water quality features and reinforce the west banks of Lake Loveland. Water and stormwater work is being completed together to reduce costs and limit public disruption. Construction is taking place outside irrigation season, when lake levels are low, to reduce environmental and operational impacts.

Funding

The project is primarily funded through enterprise funds for water and stormwater, which are supported by customer rates, charges and fees. In October 2025, the construction contract was awarded to T. Lowell Construction following a competitive bidding process. The winning bid estimated a total project cost of $7.093 million, including about $3.73 million for waterline work and $3.36 million for stormwater improvements. Additionally, the stormwater utility will receive $400,000 from enterprise transportation funds to support Lake Loveland bank restoration, which will benefit Taft Avenue.

Stay Informed

For project updates, including the option to sign up for weekly updates, detour maps and to ask questions or contact the project team visit letstalkloveland.org/taft-ave-water-storm-improvements.

You may also email: UtilitiesInfo@cityofloveland.org, or call 970-962-3521 (Water concerns) or 970-962-2773 (Stormwater concerns).

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