12/05/2025
I just got word that the brand spankin’ new Siphon Overpass and the Power Trail are now OPEN! Whatever the issue was, they were able to find an interim solution.
12/01/2025 Update:
Good afternoon, everyone. I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. I’m just getting caught up after a week with the computer and phone mostly shut down.
Let’s ease into the week with some great news: The City of Fort Collins announced today the completion and opening of the Siphon Overpass project on Friday, Dec. 5, weather pending, restoring a key section of the Power Trail and providing for the first time a direct, safe connection between the Mail Creek Trail and the Power Trail.
The new overpass safely carries the Mail Creek Trail over the Union Pacific Railroad roughly halfway between Harmony Road and Trilby Road, eliminating a long-standing gap in the City’s trail system. With the opening of the Siphon Overpass, people walking, biking and rolling can now travel on the City’s paved trail network between southeast Fort Collins and the rest of the city.
The project included construction of the new overpass, realignment of the Power Trail to meet the structure and improvements to nearby trail sections.
The Siphon Overpass project was completed on schedule and in coordination with the Union Pacific Railroad, Platte River Power Authority (PRPA), local partners and community stakeholders.
Original Story: 11/04/2025
The long-anticipated Siphon Overpass was lifted into place this morning, marking a major milestone in the City of Fort Collins’ $4.7 million project that will connect the new Mail Creek Trail to the existing Power Trail.
The 195-foot bridge weighs about 175,000 pounds and was delivered in four pieces, bolted together, and lifted into position by a 600-ton crane — a setup that costs roughly $100,000 per day to operate. The structure was fabricated by BCS Fabrication in Loveland for around $1 million. Crews carefully timed the installation between passing trains, with one train rolling through at 10:16 a.m. Power lines were temporarily taken offline to accommodate the lift. Rigging started around 8:00 am, the bridge left the ground at 10:30, and was roughly in place by 10:36 am, Tuesday, November 4th, 2025. The overpass is located one mile North of Trilby Road on the Power Trail and marks the halfway point between Harmony Road and Trilby Road. It is the only legal way to cross the railroad tracks in that span.
Installation required a precision process: drop the bridge into position to mark the holes, lift it again for drilling, then lower it a final time to bolt it in place. Once complete, the overpass will feature a concrete surface, solar-powered lighting, and about six inches of deflection once the concrete is poured.
The Siphon Overpass has been in planning since 2019 and is expected to open in late November or early December. When complete, it will safely link neighborhoods, schools, and parks across southeast Fort Collins, providing a long-awaited connection between the Mail Creek and Power Trails over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.
The Power Trail remains closed between Keenland Drive and East Trilby Road while crews complete the installation. Trail users should follow the posted detour via Keenland Drive, South Lemay Avenue, and Southridge Greens Boulevard until the overpass opens.
More information on the Siphon Overpass project, including maps and updates, is available here.
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