Phase 3 Update: All Aboard!

The city is submitting permits to both Union Pacific Railroad and Great Western Railroad to gain permission to tunnel beneath the tracks on 12th Steet. This portion of the project is an essential step for completing the outfall system that will discharge stormwater from the downtown area into the Cache la Poudre River east of the tracks.

The work being done on the 12th Street Storm Drain Outfall project is a major upgrade, designed to handle a 100-year storm event, compared to the current 10-year capacity.

Engineers are evaluating soil conditions, tunneling methods and pipe sizes to develop a solution that ensures zero impact to railroad infrastructure or operations. The goal is to have a tunneling method approved by Spring 2026, allowing construction to proceed along 12th Street without disrupting train service.