Groundbreaking Ceremony Signals Start of Downtown Infrastructure Improvements Project

Construction is underway on the City of Greeley’s Downtown Infrastructure Improvements Project, the next step in the Downtown Revitalization Program. The multi-year investment will replace more than 100-year-old water, sewer, stormwater and add non-potable infrastructure to help reduce flood risk, improve public safety, support downtown redevelopment and prepare the area for future improvements.

City leaders, project partners and community members celebrated the project’s official groundbreaking on Aug. 4, marking the transition from years of planning to construction.

“Part of our city’s historic legacy is building and maintaining the essential systems people rely on every day, often without seeing them,” said Adam Prior, deputy director and chief engineer for Greeley Water Utilities at the August 4 groundbreaking ceremony. “But infrastructure has a lifespan. What served the community well in the past now needs to be modernized to support the next generation of growth, safety, and investment.”

Much of the most important work will happen underground before the community sees changes above ground. Planned upgrades include more than one mile of stormwater pipe, 1.3 miles of large stormwater box culverts, and more than two miles of water, sewer and non-potable mains throughout downtown Greeley. The stormwater improvements will help the city better manage storm flows up to 100-year storm events, strengthening infrastructure beneath a vital economic and civic center.

Current work is taking place along 7th Avenue between 9th and 10th streets, where crews are removing pavement and excavating for a new sanitary sewer main. Northbound 7th Avenue is closed, while southbound traffic, businesses and sidewalks remain open. In mid-August, work will shift to the 7th Avenue and 10th Street intersection, requiring a full intersection closure and temporary on-street parking closures.

A project of this scale requires coordination among the City, downtown businesses, property owners, residents, contractors, engineers, developers and community partners. The City is working alongside the downtown community to manage short-term impacts while delivering long-term value. Once the underground infrastructure is in place, the City can move into future stages of work, including roadway enhancements, streetscape improvements and upgrades that improve how people move throughout downtown.

For the latest construction updates, traffic impacts, parking information and detour maps, visit SpeakUpGreeley.com/Downtown-Infrastructure.