Timberline Road to Close for Weekend Crack Sealing Project
Fort Collins will close a busy section of South Timberline Road for two days to perform preventive maintenance designed to extend the roadway's lifespan.
The city will shut down South Timberline Road between East Mulberry Street and East Prospect Road from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on September 27 and 28 for crack sealing work, weather permitting. The closure affects one of Fort Collins' most heavily traveled north-south corridors, which typically handles between 20,000 and 30,000 vehicles daily on arterial segments.
During the closure, drivers should use Lemay Avenue or the Interstate 25 Frontage Road as alternate routes to travel between Mulberry and Prospect. Sidewalks along Timberline will remain open for pedestrians, including access to the Poudre Trail connection near the Cache La Poudre River crossing.
The crack sealing represents a strategic investment in pavement preservation. According to the Fort Collins Street Maintenance Program, crack sealing helps extend asphalt road life by preventing moisture from penetrating into the road's base layers, particularly important given Northern Colorado's harsh freeze-thaw cycles that can accelerate pavement deterioration.
The city typically schedules crack sealing for arterial and collector roadways on a four to seven-year cycle as part of its comprehensive maintenance strategy. This preventive approach helps delay more expensive repairs and reconstruction work on roads that normally last 15 to 25 years in Northern Colorado's climate.
The project falls under Fort Collins' Street Maintenance Program, which operates on a $21.5 million annual budget in 2024. The program maintains 1,994 lane miles of roadway throughout the city, with $10.7 million funded through the voter-approved Street Maintenance quarter-cent tax that was recently renewed through 2045.
Fort Collins uses a data-driven approach to prioritize maintenance work, evaluating roads based on pavement condition, traffic volume, age, and cost-effectiveness. Roads with moderate surface distress typically receive preventive treatments like crack sealing, while those with more severe deterioration may require overlays or complete reconstruction.
The city repairs an average of 94 miles of roadway annually through various maintenance measures designed to preserve the transportation system before extensive repairs become necessary.
The Timberline Road segment receiving attention developed as a major corridor during Fort Collins' eastward expansion, beginning as a rural county road before being upgraded to handle increased traffic from residential and commercial growth starting in the late 1970s through the 1990s.
Work may extend beyond the scheduled 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. hours if needed to complete the project. Drivers should plan for delays and allow extra travel time while using alternate routes.
For more information about the Street Maintenance Program, residents can visit fcgov.com/smp or contact the Streets Department at 970-221-6615. A complete list of active construction projects is available at fcgov.com/construction.