Loveland council approves $2,086 for Hannah Avenue sidewalk and guardrail improvements

The Loveland City Council on a 7-0 vote on Sept. -- approved a resolution authorizing $2,086 for a Hannah Avenue sidewalk and guardrail improvement project intended to restore pedestrian connectivity near Broadway.

City Manager Dave Kennedy told council the project responds to a connectivity plan reviewed earlier in the year and aims to fix a gap in the sidewalk near address 319 by removing and relocating guardrails and tapering a new sidewalk toward the curb. "So we've come up with a plan, and we are in a position to move forward with that this year," Kennedy said, describing a two-part approach that first removes guardrails and then adds new guardrails set behind the sidewalk to protect a nearby stormwater ravine.

The project is structured as two work elements that rely on each other: guardrail removal and guardrail installation, Kennedy said, and the combined scope exceeded the city's administrative spending limit, prompting council review. He said city crews will install required crosswalks when construction permits pedestrian through-routes into downtown and that the project will include tapered ADA ramps on both sides.

Councilmember Ory said the change is needed because "the sidewalk just stops" and pedestrians are forced into the street; Councilmember Horry pressed for details about whether the guardrail posts would be longer and whether additional fencing would be needed. Kennedy said the guardrail posts will be longer so the guardrail will remain at proper elevation while allowing enough space for the sidewalk.

The resolution identifying the project amount read as: "Resolution authorizing the expenditure of $2,086 for the Hannah Avenue sidewalk and guardrail improvement project." The council called the roll and the resolution was adopted 7-0.

The city said the project work will be completed by city crews and a contractor (guardrail removal is quoted as a separate element), and that no additional private property acquisition is required because the city already owns the needed right-of-way from the Broadway stabilization work.

Council members and staff indicated the work is meant to restore pedestrian connectivity to downtown and to complement broader sidewalk and traffic-signal modernization efforts in the city.

City announcements at the meeting included upcoming community events and did not change the project schedule.