FOR RELEASE: Heart Improvement Plan prepares for E. 4th Street and N. Washington Avenue intersection closure on April 14
City of Loveland, Colorado
MEDIA RELEASE
CONTACTS: Illianna Milldrum, Communication and Engagement Specialist, 970-962-2608, Illianna.Milldrum@cityofloveland.org
Heart Improvement Plan prepares for E. 4th Street and N. Washington Avenue intersection closure on April 14
LOVELAND, Colo. – April 8, 2025 – The Heart Improvement Plan will close the intersection of E. 4th Street and N. Washington Avenue to begin water and stormwater construction on Monday, April 14, weather permitting. The work is anticipated to be completed within 2 to 3 weeks.
The Heart Improvement Plan’s 4th Street Revitalization project broke ground on Tuesday, February 25, where the project began removing asphalt, concrete curb and gutter, deteriorated trees and prohibited Ash trees from Washington to Jefferson Avenue. To date, the City’s water division has installed 460 linear feet of waterline and 12 new water services, where these efforts will continue at the intersection of E. 4th Street and N. Washington Avenue.
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 Washington to Jefferson Avenue. Business entrances remain open throughout construction. On the evenings and weekends, the project maintains north-south pedestrian access at Jefferson Avenue & 4th Street, this configuration is only in place when deemed safe.
Alternative detour routes during the closure
During the E. 4th Street and N. Washington Avenue closure, motorists are encouraged to use the designated detour route via E. 7th Street, E. 1st Street, Lincoln Avenue, Cleveland Avenue and Madison Avenue. Local access will be maintained for those within the construction zone. Throughout the duration of construction, pedestrian access will be maintained but rerouted around the active construction areas based on the current phase of work.
As community members navigate during this closure, commuters will need to use E. 5th Street and Adams Avenue to access the entrances of the City Municipal Complex, Loveland Library, Chilson Recreation Center and Senior Center. Commuters should plan their routes accordingly and expect delays.
Phase 1A and current operations
Currently, the project is in Phase 1A, where work is dedicated to upgrading water and stormwater infrastructure, as well as roadway replacement. During this phase, work is expected to last between six and eight months in total.
Construction Workzone – Phase 1A
Construction timeline
In partnership with the DDA and local business owners, the construction schedule was designed to minimize disruption to local businesses by dividing the project into five blocks. Construction will begin 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.
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 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.
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.
