In a city that has often been plagued with flooding, plans are underway for the construction of a new drainage pipe system.
The City of Greeley says it wants to replace its current drainage system, parts of which were built in the 1920s.
As planned, construction of the new system will stretch roughly one mile from the banks of the Poudre River to downtown Greeley and could take up to 5 years to fully complete.
It is thought that it will cost at least $40 million to build the new system, with $15 million expected to be spent during the first year of the project.
Due to the limitations of its current drainage system, the downtown Greeley area especially has been subject to flooding. Earlier this month a particularly heavy rainstorm dropped between 1.4 and 4 inches of rain in less than an hour, flooding area businesses and homes.
According to city sources, that downfall was the equivalent of 100 million gallons of water.
The Greeley City Council is expected to vote shortly on a proposal to build a new $40 million system.
Earlier this spring, the city embarked on what it calls the East 8th Street Improvement Project, designed to expand a busy thoroughfare, and in the process improve area drainage and utility systems.
By Garry Boulard
