New Crosswalks Coming to 3rd Street for Safer Downtown Walking
The City of Loveland began installing crosswalks at two busy downtown intersections Monday, marking a significant step toward improving pedestrian safety in the historic core. The $250,000 project will add crosswalks at 3rd Street and Cleveland Avenue and 3rd Street and Lincoln Avenue over the next two weeks.
The crosswalk installation received full funding through the Colorado Department of Transportation's Revitalizing Main Streets grant program, with the Loveland Downtown Development Authority providing a required 10% match of $25,000, according to the city's Let's Talk Loveland project documentation.
Construction crews will work from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, while keeping business entrances and sidewalks open along 3rd Street between Cleveland and Lincoln avenues.
Traffic Impacts and Detours
The project will significantly impact downtown traffic patterns during the two-week construction period. Lincoln Avenue traffic will be reduced to a single lane, while westbound 3rd Street traffic will be completely closed at Lincoln Avenue with drivers detoured to Jefferson Avenue.
A similar closure will affect the 3rd Street and Cleveland Avenue intersection, where eastbound traffic will be rerouted to Railroad Avenue. City officials are encouraging pedestrians to use crossings at 4th Street and 1st Street during the installation period.
Addressing Long-Standing Safety Concerns
The crosswalk locations were identified as priorities based on feedback from downtown residents and businesses who raised pedestrian safety concerns. These concerns were validated by a 2022 traffic study that documented the challenges pedestrians faced when crossing 3rd Street in this area, according to the city's project documentation.
The Colorado Department of Transportation agreed that crosswalks were essential in this high-pedestrian area and supported the implementation. Once completed, the new bulb-out crosswalks will provide pedestrians with a safer, more direct connection to the Foundry Parking Garage.
"Based on feedback from downtown residents and businesses, this section was identified as a priority for improving pedestrian safety," the city stated in project materials.
Coordination with Major Downtown Revitalization
The crosswalk installation is being coordinated with the much larger Heart Improvement Plan's 4th Street Revitalization project, a $24.5 million downtown reconstruction effort that began in February 2025. The massive project spans five blocks along 4th Street from Garfield Avenue to Washington Avenue and includes complete replacement of century-old water and stormwater utilities, full road reconstruction, and extensive streetscape improvements.
Construction at the 4th Street and Lincoln Avenue intersection should be completed by the end of next week, weather permitting, which will help reduce overlapping traffic impacts from both projects.
Grant Program Supports Active Transportation
The Revitalizing Main Streets grant that funded Loveland's crosswalks is part of a statewide initiative to enhance active transportation safety and strengthen connections between people and main street areas. The program encourages physical activity and enhances local economic vitality through infrastructure improvements that make walking and biking easier.
The grant required the city to complete the crosswalk installation by October 2025 or risk losing the funding. The program has supported dozens of Colorado communities with similar pedestrian safety and downtown revitalization projects.
Timeline and Information
The crosswalk installation must be completed by October 2025 under the grant terms. Residents can stay informed about downtown construction impacts by visiting lovgov.org/HIPStreets or contacting the Public Works Department at 970-962-2524 or [email protected].
The project represents a key component of broader efforts to transform downtown Loveland into a more walkable, economically vibrant district that better serves residents, businesses, and visitors alike.