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Linden Street Renovation Project#

Overview#

Location Map

The Linden Street Renovation project will transform Linden Street between Jefferson and Walnut Street into a “convertible street,” which is a roadway that can be closed to vehicular and bicycle traffic and transformed into a pedestrian gathering space during specialty events.

To accomplish this, the City has planned significant urban design and landscaping improvements, gateway elements, roadway/pedestrian improvements, and utility improvements. The conceptual design phase was completed in 2014 and the final design was completed in 2019.

Construction was originally planned for 2020, with the entire project built at once. However, due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the City postponed construction and ultimately broke the project into two phases. This was done in part to mitigate as much disruption as possible to the business community.

Project Goals#

By the end of the project, Linden Street will be transformed into a “convertible street” and will be much more pedestrian friendly and aesthetically pleasing. 

Parking spaces on Linden will be changed to parallel spaces instead of the diagonal parking spaces that currently exist. While some loss of parking will occur on Linden Street, additional new parking spaces will be created on Jefferson and Pine streets as part of this project. 

Phase 1 (2021)#

Phase 1 of the project was completed in 2021. It included improvements to the intersections of Linden and Jefferson and Linden and Walnut streets, specifically:

  • New paver intersection at Linden and Walnut
  • Updated corners at the Linden and Walnut intersection
  • New lighting at Linden and Walnut
  • Updated pedestrian corners at Linden and Jefferson
  • Updated pedestrian push buttons at the Linden and Jefferson corners

In addition, two related projects were completed in 2020:

  • Restriping of parking on Pine Street, resulting in additional parking spaces, and
  • Lane adjustments on Jefferson Street, which resulted in the reduction of Jefferson to one eastbound lane (from two), and the addition of a few on-street parallel parking spaces. More information about that project is available at fcgov.com/engineering/jeffersonimprovements2020.

Phase 2 (2022)#

Phase 2 of the Linden Street Renovation project began in February 2022 and will build off the work completed in Phase 1.

In this phase, the remainder of the 200 block of Linden Street will see improvements, with construction taking place in stages from building front to building front. Access to all businesses will remain available.

Work Areas#

The 2022 work area focuses on the main areas of Linden Street between Walnut and Jefferson, from building front to building front. In this image, Walnut Street is on the left and Jefferson Street is on the right.

The 2021 work area focused on Linden's intersections at Walnut and Jefferson.

Schedule#

Phase 2 of the Linden Street Renovation project began in February 2022, with the goal of achieving substantial completion in July 2022. Partial completion of the project will allow outdoor dining to resume in limited capacity no later than May 2022 while construction continues on other areas of Linden Street.

This phase will be divided into defined steps or segments of work, moving around the project area. The primary goals of this segmented work plan, are to deliver a functional space for businesses prior to project completion and ensure business access is maintained throughout all stages of construction.

  • The project will begin with drainage improvements to include a new storm line and inlets down the center of Linden Street.  Additional utility work will be coordinated during this phase.
  • Work will begin near the Walnut Street intersection working toward the Jefferson Street intersection and will include demolition of existing street, sidewalk and planter areas.
  • Demolition will follow up with construction of new planters and concrete paver sidewalks.
  • Work will finalize with construction in the traveled lanes and include landscaping, tivoli lighting, urban design features and site amenities.

What can I expect?#

During Phase 2, there will be significant disruptions on Linden Street. The project team will work to minimize disruptions as much as possible.

Vehicle traffic on Linden will be restricted during construction, but pedestrian access to businesses will be available throughout the project.

Linden Street visitors can access the corridor by parking on streets around the project as well as by parking in the Firehouse Alley Parking structure located off Chestnut Street.

Visitors who park in the Firehouse Alley structure can access Linden by walking on Old Firehouse Alley or on Jefferson Street. For more information, click here.

How we're supporting local businesses#

The City of Fort Collins takes great pride in our business community and we want to support local businesses as much as we can. City Staff understand that the Linden Street project is disruptive and we have taken care to minimize negative effects as much as possible.

To help minimize impacts, the City delayed the most significant phases of construction to 2022 in order to allow for more recovery from COVID-19. We have also started as early in the year as possible to finish construction in time for several remaining months of warm weather.

Further, the City modified construction phasing to maximize pedestrian access to businesses and have outdoor patio space available as soon as possible. Several banners have also been placed at entrances to the project to remind Downtown visitors that Linden Street businesses are open.

For businesses, we have provided weekly updates on the project, and each business is able to obtain vouchers for free parking in City parking structures to give to employees and patrons.

We take our commitment to our businesses and neighbors on Linden Street seriously and we are continuously looking for ways to improve.

At the end of the day, we believe this project will have a huge positive impact on Linden Street and the surrounding area. In the meantime, we appreciate the patience and understanding of our businesses and residents and encourage anyone who wishes to visit Linden Street businesses to do so. Access to businesses will remain available at all times.

Funding#

The project budget is $3.5 million, and will come from the voter-approved Building on Basics program.

Design Renderings#

Contact#

Dillon Willett | Project Manager – Civil Engineer II | 907-726-7685 | dwillett@fcgov.com