Loveland to host open house on U.S. 287 project

During the 2013 Big Thompson River flood, property and infrastructure near its U.S. 287 crossing in southwest Loveland sustained millions of dollars in damages. Now the city is planning major improvements in the area, including the reconstruction of the U.S. 287 bridge.

On Tuesday, Loveland Public Works is hosting a public open house from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Fairgrounds Park Pavilion (700 S. Railroad Ave.) to share more about the Highway 287 Flood Mitigation project and how it will enhance safety, boost resilience, and provide more options for river recreation.

"This is one of the city's highest priority capital improvement projects, and it will help protect community infrastructure and private properties that were heavily damaged in the 2013 flood," city Stormwater Engineering Manager Chris Carlson stated in a news release.

The first phase of construction will focus on the bridge, which will be raised 4 feet and expanded to prevent overtopping of the roadway in future flood events. In future phases, the Big Thompson corridor between Railroad and St. Louis avenues will also be improved.

Open house attendees will have the opportunity to speak with project staff from the city and the contractor. There will also be displays on the project, an estimated construction timeline, and phasing information.

The city will work with several other agencies during the project, including the Colorado Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).

The project is currently in the planning stage, with construction projected to start in 2026. Total costs for the design phase are estimated at $2.6 million, 90% of which is being covered by a federal grant. The remainder is coming from increased stormwater fees.

Total costs for the bridge construction have yet to be determined, but the city plans to seek additional grants.