Carriage Hills and Spruce Knob Water System Improvements

Update: 10/03/2025

The bottom layer of asphalt is complete on Carriage Drive between Highway 7 and Lakeshore with the top layer scheduled for October 14/15. Until the top layer is placed, the surface will remain very uneven. Final paving will require Carriage Drive to be closed for a short period while the asphalt is placed and cools. Once this top layer is down, only striping will remain.

TWX is actively replacing the water line on Carriage Drive from Lakeshore to Spruce and will soon be preparing for waterline work between Spruce and Whispering Pines. These portions of Carriage Drive will only be open to local traffic to allow residents to get to their homes. Please note that while the contractor is directly in front of your property, you will have limited access. This should be a short duration of impact for each property. If you have special access needs, please contact us so we can make arrangements.

Reminder: The park area is currently being used for construction and installation of a pressure regulating station. The playground area remains open. For safety reasons, please stay out of the fenced construction area. 

The updated near-term schedule is provided below. Please note that this schedule will change as construction progresses. Changes typically result from field conditions and weather. The contractor will work along Carriage Drive as far into the fall as possible. Please watch for changing traffic patterns as they complete the first segment and move on to the second. Traffic impacts will typically occur Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. There will sometimes be work over weekends to restore the ground surfaces and street conditions.

We will continue to host drop-in sessions the first Wednesday of each month from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. if you have questions or want to talk about impacts to your property. These sessions will be at our Utilities building located at 1180 Woodstock. Please drop in during these sessions. 

We are also hosting an informational session on October 13 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Hondius Room at the Estes Valley Library (335 E. Elkhorn Ave.). Please come by to hear a brief presentation about the project then ask the Town and contractor questions. 

For more information about this project please contact Jacqui Wesley, Utilities Capital Projects Manager, at jwesley@estes.org or Mike Dantimo, Capital Projects Supervisor, at mdantimo@estes.org and watch for updates on this project's webpage.

About This Project

Update:  09/25/2025

September 25, 2025 

Many of our Carriage Hills area customers experienced a water outage on the afternoon of Sept. 22. This incident caused great inconvenience to our customers, and we appreciate their patience as we refocused all our resources to fix the problem. This unfortunate incident demonstrates the importance of the Town’s current construction of the new water system to serve the neighborhood. We want to address the questions and concerns we have heard and provide additional information that we gathered to answer our own questions during and after the water outage.

Why did a portion of the Carriage Hills neighborhood experience this outage?  The outage was caused by a significant rupture of a water pipeline and the resulting crack in the main distribution line. The leak occurred because a previously unidentified stub – or dead-end line – separated from the water main. A significant crack formed in the water main, resulting in a rapid decrease in water pressure. 

Water pipeline failures like this can occur for many reasons. In this case, an old, weak line failed at its connection point with the water main. Because this pipe was previously unidentified, the connection point could not be stabilized/restrained as a precaution before the pipe replacement work that is occurring down the line. The vibration and movement of the main line during the excavation nearby likely caused the leak. The leak was not caused by construction equipment striking the line. 

Why is the old system susceptible to leaks? Much of the original pipeline is made of cast iron, which is not as strong as ductile iron and more likely to fail. These pipes were originally installed too close to the ground surface and laid directly against rock. In addition, these lines are unrestrained – meaning the pipes can pull apart under high pressure. These factors contribute to failures in the lines.

How was the leak repaired? Within minutes of the failure, the construction contractor, TWX, notified the Water Division staff. Staff determined the significant repair would require closing valves to stop the high-pressure flow ahead of the leak, so they could safely repair old pipe and fitting. Once repaired, Town staff flushed the line and tested the water quality. Valves were reopened slowly, in stages, and all customers were restored by approximately 9 p.m. TWX was instrumental in assisting Town staff throughout the emergency repairs.

Who was affected? Water customers along the north end of Carriage Drive and Spruce Avenue experienced either low water pressure or water service interruption due to failures of the old pipes that will soon be replaced.

Why was the Town unaware of the line that separated from the main? The Carriage Hills water system was originally constructed by the privately owned Crystal Water Company. The Town was asked to take over the ownership and management of the system, which it did by 1990. Crystal Water Company did not have a complete map of its water system, so the Town began developing a detailed GIS map, adding new information as pipes are located. The stub where the leak occurred was not identified in the mapping. 

Can we prevent this from happening again? As construction progresses, there is a chance a similar incident can occur due to the physical movement of the old pipes caused by construction along the pipeline. The contractor is taking additional precautions by installing temporary water service connections in the area they are working, and Town staff are confirming valves are operational and can be closed quickly. The valves will allow us to isolate sections of the existing pipe in the event of a waterline break and reduce the impact to customers. We always maintain a stock of  spare parts so that we can make rapid repairs. We will continue to carefully monitor construction and system operations. We greatly appreciate our customers' patience while we construct a high-quality, resilient water system to serve them in the future.

How will customers benefit from the water system upgrades? The new Carriage Hills water system is designed to high standards, a stark contrast to the current system. Service interruptions and outages will be significantly decreased, and the system will be more reliable and safer overall. The new system is built with ductile iron pipes, which will be restrained and stabilized at all connection points. Each new pipe is buried at least 5 feet below the ground surface and always bedded on suitable material. If bedrock is in the way, it is moved to ensure the stability of the new line. The new system is designed with more valves to allow for isolation in the event of pipe issues. 

Update:  09/22/2025

Update:  09/19/2025

The scheduled Thursday, September 18 water service interruption along Larkspur and S. Morris Court did not occur due to a required change in alignment and service connection at Larkspur. We experienced two significant line breaks on the existing water line on Larkspur that made a change in service necessary. 

TWX has completed main installation and testing of the new water line on Carriage Drive from Larkspur to approximately Lakeshore Drive. Two service lines need to be connected prior to this area being complete. Starting September 22, the contractor will close Carriage Drive from Lakeshore to just before Spruce to allow them to install the new water line in this area. Access in this segment will be provided for residents and emergency responders.

Starting the week of September 22, the first “lift” of asphalt will be installed on Carriage Drive, with the top lift to be installed after a larger portion of Carriage Drive is completed. Please note this means Carriage Drive will have an uneven surface until the final lift is installed.

Reminder: The park area is currently being used for construction and installation of a pressure regulating station. The playground area remains open. For safety reasons, please stay out of the fenced construction area.  

We’ve noticed some of the traffic control devices (cones, barricades, fences) have been moved during non-working hours. We request residents and guests to not disturb the traffic control devices – these are needed for safety around the construction site. 

The updated near-term schedule is provided below. Please note that this schedule will change as construction progresses. Changes typically result from field conditions and weather. The contractor will work along Carriage Drive as far into the fall as possible. Please watch for changing traffic patterns as they complete the first segment and move on to the second. Traffic impacts will typically occur Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. There will sometimes be work over weekends to restore the ground surfaces and street conditions.

The Town be available for interested parties to drop-in and ask questions on Wednesday, October 1 from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. at 1360 Brook Drive (the Water Shop). During the September information session very few residents stopped by. We will determine if future sessions are necessary based on the October attendance. 

We are also hosting an informational session on October 13 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Hondius Room at the Estes Valley Library (335 E. Elkhorn Ave.). Please come by to hear a brief presentation about the project then ask the Town and contractor questions.  

For more information about this project please contact Jacqui Wesley, Utilities Capital Projects Manager, at jwesley@estes.org or Mike Dantimo, Capital Projects Supervisor, at mdantimo@estes.org and watch for updates on this project's page at https://estespark.colorado.gov/carriagehillsandspruceknob.

Update:  09/16/2025

There is a scheduled water service interruption on Thursday, September 18 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This shutdown is required to allow for the safe interconnection of the new water system. If you notice discolored water once service is restored, run your COLD water until it clears. Each house was also notified by a door hanger that contains more information.  

Update:  09/15/2025

Starting Sept 15, there will be a change in traffic control and access on Carriage Dr, Larkspur, and Lakeshore. These changes are needed for safety during replacement of the waterline. 

Sept 15 to Sept 19 from no earlier than 7 am to no later than 7 pm, Carriage Dr will be one way from Spruce to Lakeshore. Flaggers will control traffic. Carriage Dr will be closed between Lakeshore and Larkspur. 

Sept 19 at the end of the day, Larkspur will re-open for access onto Hwy 7/N St. Vrain. 

Sept 22 to Oct 17, Carriage Dr will be closed from Lakeshore to Spruce and will not re-open at night. No left turn from Lakeshore onto Carriage Dr. Access will be available for residents only. 

Early October, access between Lakeshore and Carriage toward Highway 7 will be re-opened.

All dates subject to change due to construction conditions or weather conditions. Monitor our website at https://estespark.colorado.gov/waterprojects

Update: 09/08/2025

TWX has completed main installation along Pawnee, connected to the existing Highway 7 crossing, and moved over to Carriage Drive. They will continue down Carriage Drive to Lakeshore to complete the first segment. TWX has brought in a big trencher (see photo below) to help make things go faster. Once the waterline is installed and service connections made, they will repair the road surface. 

The park area has been prepared for installation of a new pressure regulating station, which will be underground. Once this is completed, the park will be reseeded and new trees planted. For safety reasons, please stay out of the fenced construction area. The playground area remains open. 

The updated near-term schedule is provided below. Please note that this schedule will change as construction progresses. Changes typically result from field conditions and weather. The contractor will work along Carriage Drive as far into the fall as possible. Please watch for changing traffic patterns as they complete the first segment and move on to the second. Traffic impacts will typically occur Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. There will sometimes be work over weekends to restore the ground surfaces and street conditions.   

 
The Town hosted an information session on Wednesday, September 3. We only had two residents (same address) drop by. We have another session scheduled for October 8 from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. at 1360 Brook Drive (the Water Shop). If we get strong participation in these sessions, we will schedule more. 

For more information about this project please contact Jacqui Wesley, Utilities Capital Projects Manager, at jwesley@estes.org or Mike Dantimo, Capital Projects Supervisor, at mdantimo@estes.org and watch for updates on this project's page.

Updated August 20, 2025

The first phase of the Carriage Hills and Spruce Knob Water Systems Improvement Project is starting in August 2025 and is being done by a team lead by Timberwolf Excavating (TWX). TWX will be exploring the geotechnical conditions, locating existing utilities, and preparing to install pipe starting on August 11, 2025, with active construction expected to start on or after August 18, 2025. 

Phase 1 includes replacing older water pipes along Carriage Drive from Highway 7 to Ramshorn and along Whispering Pines from Ponderosa to approximately Pine Meadow Drive, reconnecting the existing services, and installing new (and more) fire hydrants. The Town needs to complete this project because the older existing water mains are not buried deep enough to protect them from freezing and they are subject to leaking and breaking. The project will also connect the water system in Carriage Hills to other sections of the Town's water system at Pawnee and Grey Fox. These connections will improve the overall operation of the system. A new pressure regulating station will be installed near the playground at the park.

Construction will take about a year to complete. The tentative schedule is provided below, but is subject to change depending on field conditions and contract terms.

There will be traffic impacts during construction, which will typically occur Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The first area of impact is from Highway 7 to Lakeshore then further down Carriage Drive to Spruce Avenue. During times of active construction, portions of the street will be closed and traffic will be detoured onto adjacent roads. This portion of the work is expected to take 5 to 8 weeks to complete. Once completed, the road will be patched with asphalt and fully reopened to traffic and the second segment (on Carriage Drive from Spruce Avenue to south of Whispering Pines) will be constructed. 

Please note that road closures will move with construction, impacting Carriage Drive and Whispering Pines.  Periodically check this website for updates on new planned road closures and detours.  

For more information about this project please contact Jacqui Wesley, Utilities Capital Project Manager, at jwesley@estes.org or Mike Dantimo, Capital Projects Supervisor, at mdantimo@estes.org and watch for updates on this project's page.

Project Morning Information Sessions with the Water Division

We invite you to attend our monthly morning information sessions to learn more about the project, ask questions, and share your concerns. Our team will be available to discuss construction plans, address specific issues, and provide detailed information about the project timeline.

Location: Water Shop at 1360 Brook Drive 

Dates and Time: September 3 and October 1, 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. (any time during these hours)

Project Information and Updates

October 15, 2024 public meeting presentation.