Fort Collins Begins Construction on Power Trail Underpass to Complete Critical Trail Segment
Fort Collins started construction November 12 on an underpass beneath Harmony Road that will close the final gap in the Power Trail, creating a continuous paved route from Trilby Road to the Spring Creek Trail for the first time since the trail's initial segments opened in the early 2000s.
The Power Trail Harmony Crossing project will eliminate a gap that has forced pedestrians and cyclists to detour onto Harmony Road for more than two decades. Construction will focus first on the underpass, then extend trail segments north toward Keenland Drive and south to Golden Meadows Park along the Union Pacific Railroad corridor.
The city expects to complete the full trail facility by spring 2027, according to the announcement.
Two-Decade Vision Reaches Final Phase
Fort Collins first identified the Power Trail as a critical north-south corridor in city master plans from the late 1990s and early 2000s, envisioning a safe, off-street route for pedestrians and cyclists along the city's Light & Power utility corridor.
The city built the first major section from Spring Creek Trail to Golden Meadows Park in the early 2000s, followed by an extension south to Keenland Drive. The Harmony Road crossing remained as the trail's most significant gap due to complexities with the railroad and major road intersection.
Voters approved funding for the underpass in 2015 through a 10-year quarter-cent sales tax renewal under the Community Capital Improvement Program, specifically allocating money for bike and pedestrian grade-separated crossings.
The city secured more than $6.7 million in federal grants between 2018 and 2024 to supplement local funding. The Federal Highway Administration provided $800,000 through the Transportation Alternatives Program in 2018 and $5.94 million through two separate Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program awards in 2023 and 2024.
Construction Impacts on Harmony Road
Initial work through November and December will include shoulder closures and median work on Harmony Road between McMurry Avenue and Timberline Road. Crews will remove trees on the south side of Harmony Road in the path of the new underpass and trail section.
The city designed the underpass to meet Fort Collins Engineering Standards requiring 12 feet of clear width and 10 feet of minimum vertical clearance. Trail grades will not exceed 5 percent to maintain accessibility.
The project required permits from the city's Engineering Department, the Colorado Department of Transportation for access to State Highway 68, and Union Pacific Railroad for construction near tracks. The city also secured stormwater permits addressing drainage and flood risk according to city and state standards.
Groundbreaking Event Scheduled for December
A ceremonial groundbreaking for city staff and media is scheduled for December 2 at 11 a.m. at Golden Meadows Park, just north of the project site. Attendees will gather at the current northern terminus of the trail, with a possible visit to the construction site.
Credentialed media interested in attending should contact Dillon Willett, Civil Engineer, at [email protected].
The city is simultaneously building the Siphon Overpass connecting Mail Creek Trail to the Power Trail between Keenland Drive and Trilby Road. That project began in October and is expected to finish by December, with the Trilby to Keenland segment of the Power Trail closed during construction.
Once both projects are complete, the Power Trail will provide an uninterrupted connection spanning several miles through southeast Fort Collins. The city's trail system master plan identifies the Power Trail as among the most heavily used in Fort Collins, with automated counters recording 1,000 to 2,500 users per day on peak sections during summer months.
For more information about the Power Trail Underpass project, visit fcgov.com/engineering/powertrailcrossing. Construction updates are available at fcgov.com/construction.