On Tuesday, May 26, the Public Works team (Bret Naber, Deputy City Manager/Infrastructure; Seth Sorensen, Director of Public Works; Steven Younkin, Deputy Chief Engineer; and Roch Labossiere, Civil Engineer IV) attended a City Council work session to provide an update on the MERGE Interchange Project. They were joined by Benjamin Rowles, Engineer Region 4 with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). To watch the full presentation, visit greeleyco.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3361/media.
Project Status Overview
The MERGE Interchange Project is moving forward at a steady pace. The City of Greeley is leading the project. With collaboration from its partners at CDOT, the City is actively coordinating next steps. Here’s a summary of where things stand.
Key Milestone Reached — Federal Grant Agreement
On May 14, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) completed its final review of the RAISE federal grant agreement and confirmed its concurrence. This is a significant step forward — it clears the way for the grant agreement to be formally executed, which will unlock the next phase of the project.
On May 6, the project team also met with the U.S. Department of Transportation, which expressed satisfaction with the City’s draft of the financial model: maximizing grant dollars and minimizing the need for loans.
How the MERGE Project Is Being Funded
The project is being funded through a combination of sources:
- Federal grant funds
- State of Colorado funding through CDOT
- Local City of Greeley funds
- A TIFIA loan (a federal infrastructure loan program) — used only as needed
The City’s goal is to use all available grant funding before tapping into any loan. The U.S. Department of Transportation has reviewed and expressed confidence in this approach.
Design and Environmental Review
Design work is underway, with the team evaluating interchange layout options and how they interact with the required environmental review process (known as NEPA — the National Environmental Policy Act). Current areas of focus include:
- Evaluating interchange configurations and associated costs
- Reviewing noise wall options and other environmental considerations
- Planning access routes for local businesses and residents during construction
- Assessing construction phasing to minimize disruption and cost
A key federal milestone requires the environmental assessment (NEPA) to be completed by June 2027. The City is on track to meet that deadline, which is required to obligate federal grant funds for the construction of the interchange.
Bringing on a Construction Partner (CM/GC Process)
The City is using a Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) delivery method, which brings a contractor on board early — during the design phase — to provide real-world construction input and enhance schedule management.
A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) has been finalized, with procurement phase beginning Q2–Q3 2026. Contractor selection will be based on qualifications and transparency, not just price.
The City has also contracted independently with Stanton, an experienced independent cost estimator, to review and validate cost estimates throughout the project’s development — providing an important check on the contractor’s figures.
Public Outreach — Coming Soon!
The City is committed to going beyond the minimum public engagement required by the NEPA process. Once the design reaches the 30% mark, the City plans to launch a public outreach effort to share design concepts and gather community feedback — on both the MERGE interchange and the associated transit hub.
Project Schedule at a Glance
- Now through Quarter 3 2026: Finalize design contract; release contractor RFQ and make selection
- Quarter 2 2027: Complete NEPA environmental assessment (federal requirement)
- 2027–2028: Complete final design, right-of-way, and utilities
- End 2027/Early 2028: Anticipated construction start
On Tuesday, May 26, the Public Works team (Bret Naber, Deputy City Manager/Infrastructure; Seth Sorensen, Director of Public Works; Steven Younkin, Deputy Chief Engineer; and Roch Labossiere, Civil Engineer IV) attended a City Council work session to provide an update on the MERGE Interchange Project. They were joined by Benjamin Rowles, Engineer Region 4 with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). To watch the full presentation, visit greeleyco.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3361/media.
Project Status Overview
The MERGE Interchange Project is moving forward at a steady pace. The City of Greeley is leading the project. With collaboration from its partners at CDOT, the City is actively coordinating next steps. Here’s a summary of where things stand.
Key Milestone Reached — Federal Grant Agreement
On May 14, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) completed its final review of the RAISE federal grant agreement and confirmed its concurrence. This is a significant step forward — it clears the way for the grant agreement to be formally executed, which will unlock the next phase of the project.
On May 6, the project team also met with the U.S. Department of Transportation, which expressed satisfaction with the City’s draft of the financial model: maximizing grant dollars and minimizing the need for loans.
How the MERGE Project Is Being Funded
The project is being funded through a combination of sources:
- Federal grant funds
- State of Colorado funding through CDOT
- Local City of Greeley funds
- A TIFIA loan (a federal infrastructure loan program) — used only as needed
The City’s goal is to use all available grant funding before tapping into any loan. The U.S. Department of Transportation has reviewed and expressed confidence in this approach.
Design and Environmental Review
Design work is underway, with the team evaluating interchange layout options and how they interact with the required environmental review process (known as NEPA — the National Environmental Policy Act). Current areas of focus include:
- Evaluating interchange configurations and associated costs
- Reviewing noise wall options and other environmental considerations
- Planning access routes for local businesses and residents during construction
- Assessing construction phasing to minimize disruption and cost
A key federal milestone requires the environmental assessment (NEPA) to be completed by June 2027. The City is on track to meet that deadline, which is required to obligate federal grant funds for the construction of the interchange.
Bringing on a Construction Partner (CM/GC Process)
The City is using a Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) delivery method, which brings a contractor on board early — during the design phase — to provide real-world construction input and enhance schedule management.
A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) has been finalized, with procurement phase beginning Q2–Q3 2026. Contractor selection will be based on qualifications and transparency, not just price.
The City has also contracted independently with Stanton, an experienced independent cost estimator, to review and validate cost estimates throughout the project’s development — providing an important check on the contractor’s figures.
Public Outreach — Coming Soon!
The City is committed to going beyond the minimum public engagement required by the NEPA process. Once the design reaches the 30% mark, the City plans to launch a public outreach effort to share design concepts and gather community feedback — on both the MERGE interchange and the associated transit hub.
Project Schedule at a Glance
- Now through Quarter 3 2026: Finalize design contract; release contractor RFQ and make selection
- Quarter 2 2027: Complete NEPA environmental assessment (federal requirement)
- 2027–2028: Complete final design, right-of-way, and utilities
- End 2027/Early 2028: Anticipated construction start
