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

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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