The City of Loveland will begin Phase 3b for the U.S. 34 and Taft Avenue Intersection Improvement project on Monday, March 24, weather permitting. This phase of work is anticipated to be completed by mid-May. Phase 3b will involve reconstructing the curbs, gutters, sidewalks and business entry points on the north side of U.S. 34/Eisenhower Boulevard, from Westshore Drive to east of Wendy’s.
“The U.S. 34 and Taft Avenue Intersection Improvement Project was designed to enhance safety, reduce congestion and improve traffic flow for all users—whether driving, biking or walking,” says City Engineer Nicole Hahn. “As we complete the final improvements to one of Loveland’s busiest intersections, we appreciate our community’s patience throughout construction and look forward to delivering a safer, more efficient roadway for everyone.”
The project’s general working hours will be from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday through Friday, with the possibility of Saturday work. Work on Saturdays will be announced in advance. While the project is currently in Phase 3b, the westbound right lane of U.S. 34 will be closed, allowing only one westbound lane of travel from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Throughout Phase 3b, the sidewalk on the north side of U.S. 34/Eisenhower Boulevard will be closed; however, access to business entrances will always be maintained throughout construction.
Phase 3b and Phase 3c
Once Phase 3b is completed in May, weather permitting, Phase 3c will transition to N. Taft Avenue to complete the widening improvements, which will require a full closure of N. Taft Avenue from U.S. 34/Eisenhower Boulevard to 18th Street.
Alternative Roadway Detour Routes:
Westbound – Detour from Lincoln Avenue and U.S. 287 to 29th Street or 1st Street.
Eastbound – Detour from Wilson Avenue to 29th Street or 1st Street.
Alternative Pedestrian Detour Route:
Pedestrians are recommended to use N. Taft Avenue then head west on 18th Street then south on Van Buren Avenue, and then east on U.S. 34/Eisenhower Boulevard. Alternatively, from U.S. 34/Eisenhower Boulevard, pedestrians will head south on N. Taft Avenue, east on 8th Street, north on Colorado Avenue and west on U.S. 34/Eisenhower Boulevard to Westshore Drive.
Phase 4
Phase 4 is anticipated to begin in June 2025, weather permitting, where the work will focus on adding back the medians to U.S. 34/Eisenhower Boulevard from Westshore Drive to Prospect Avenue. The concentration of this work will be conducted at night to reduce traffic impacts.
Upcoming Lane Changes to U.S. 34/Eisenhower Boulevard
As part of the Phase 4 improvements, changes to the eastbound and westbound lanes on U.S. 34/Eisenhower Boulevard will include the extension of three left-turn lanes to increase intersection capacity and reduce congestion.
The first improvement will be the extension of the westbound left-turn lane at U.S. 34 and Taft Avenue. This extension will help prevent traffic congestion from backing up on U.S. 34. In partnership with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), the extension of the left turn lane prevents left-turning traffic from backing up in the through lanes and improves safety and operations of the intersection. As a result, the eastbound left-turn lane on U.S. 34/Eisenhower Boulevard into the Village Inn Shopping Center will be removed to accommodate the longer turn lane. However, U-turns near Westshore Drive will remain accessible.
Similarly, the eastbound left-turn lanes at the U.S. 34/Eisenhower Boulevard intersection and Taft Avenue—including the entrance into the Safeway parking lot—will also be extended. Due to this change, the left-turn lane into Starbucks will no longer be accessible. However, U-turns in this area will not be restricted. These improvements were designed with a focus on enhancing community safety while allowing a smoother traffic flow at this busy intersection.
The project is anticipated to be fully completed by July 2025, weather permitting. Additional project details, including detour maps, images and other project updates, can be found at go.lovgov.org/taft-and-us34. Residents who wish to sign up for the project newsletter or contact the project team can email taftusimprovement@getinfonow.us or call 970.599.7788.
About the U.S. 34 and Taft Avenue Intersection Improvement Project
The U.S. 34 and Taft Avenue Intersection Improvement Project was introduced to the Loveland City Council in 1999. Throughout the years, the biggest hurdle for the project has been funding. The city found different funding sources to move the project forward over the years and is now able to move forward with allocated funding dedicated to the project.
The city has acquired and demolished the homes along the west side of Taft Avenue from 11th Street to U.S. 34/Eisenhower Boulevard. In order to accomplish the improvements to widen Taft Avenue, additional rights-of-way and easements were required. The city acquired these properties to meet construction schedules and progress with a summer 2024 start of construction date—all of which is necessary to leverage federal grant funding opportunities.
Project Funding
The U.S. 34 and Taft Avenue Intersection Improvement Project is funded by multiple funding streams collected over the past 10 years to move the project forward (2013-23). Those funding streams include grants, TABOR, General Fund, Capital Expansion Fees and the Water Enterprise Fund. To learn more about the budget for this project, visit go.lovgov.org/taft-and-us34.
