Greeley to Host Public Meetings on Major U.S. 34 Corridor Improvements
Greeley will hold two public meetings November 19 at Greeley West High School to gather community input on the MERGE project, a multi-year initiative to build grade-separated interchanges at 35th and 47th Avenues and create a regional mobility hub at Centerplace.
The meetings will run from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. for local businesses and 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for the general community at 2401 35th Avenue. City staff and project experts will present construction timelines, detail planned improvements and provide opportunities for questions and feedback.
"While these improvements will serve our community for decades, we need community input now and as the project progresses to better serve the needs of our residents," said Bhooshan Karnik, Chief Engineer and Deputy Director of Public Works & Transportation. "MERGE is about safety, connectivity and mobility, and we want to be intentional about community feedback about the project goals before we even break ground."
The MERGE project addresses safety and congestion concerns along the U.S. 34 corridor, which currently experiences high crash rates and delays at signalized intersections. Approximately 40 percent of corridor crashes are linked to signalized intersections, according to city traffic safety data.
Grade-Separated Interchanges to Replace At-Grade Crossings
The project will convert existing signalized intersections at 35th and 47th Avenues into grade-separated interchanges, where roads cross at different vertical levels using bridges or underpasses. This design eliminates conflict points between vehicles, removes stoplights and allows continuous traffic flow.
Grade separation is expected to reduce crashes by eliminating direct crossing conflicts while improving travel times during peak hours. The city selected this approach after feasibility and alternatives studies conducted in 2021 and 2022 identified conventional intersection improvements as insufficient to address projected traffic growth.
The project also includes a shared-use underpass for pedestrians and cyclists to improve safety and neighborhood connectivity, along with enhanced local transit access and micro-transit options.
Regional Mobility Hub to Connect Northern Colorado Communities
A new regional mobility hub at Centerplace will serve as an access point for bus rapid transit, intercity bus service, car and bike shares, and ride-hailing options. The hub will link Greeley with Fort Collins, Loveland and other Northern Colorado communities through expanded transit connections.
The North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization awarded $2.5 million to MERGE in January 2023, matched by an additional $2.5 million from the Colorado Department of Transportation, specifically for mobility hub design, according to NFRMPO funding records. The project has also received voter-approved Quality of Life tax revenue from Greeley residents and is pursuing additional federal transit grants.
Colorado's population growth has strained existing transportation infrastructure across the Front Range. Weld County is among the fastest-growing counties in Colorado, with population projected to increase more than 30 percent from 2020 to 2045, according to the NFRMPO regional transportation forecast. Greeley's population is expected to grow from approximately 110,000 to over 150,000 during the same period.
Construction Timeline and Review Process
The project is currently in the environmental review and design phase, with consultant selection underway as of November 2025. Construction is anticipated to begin in late 2026 following completion of federal environmental review, final design engineering and right-of-way acquisition.
The city completed the MERGE System Level Study in November 2024 per Colorado Department of Transportation Policy Directive 1601, meeting state requirements for major corridor improvements. Federal environmental assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act is underway and typically requires 12 to 24 months for completion and approval, according to federal transportation guidelines.
Community feedback from the November 19 meetings will be reviewed by city staff and the design team and incorporated into finalized plans ahead of construction. The project requires approval from Greeley City Council, Colorado Department of Transportation and federal transit authorities before construction can proceed.
Major project completion and commissioning of new interchanges and the mobility hub is targeted for 2028, according to preliminary project schedules.
Information about the MERGE project and opportunities for continued community involvement is available at SpeakUpGreeley.com/MERGE.