I-25 Cimarron Project Prepares Public for Summer Impacts

COLORADO SPRINGS—The summer season is underway with more visitors to the region and additional traffic on the roadways. With the I-25-Cimarron Project team's ongoing commitment to the project goal of minimizing impacts and inconvenience to the community, motorists, businesses, and the downtown area during construction, the project will continue to have several night closures.

As part of Phase 1 for the Interstate 25/ Cimarron project, a temporary split-lane reconfiguration on southbound I-25 between Cimarron Street/US 24 and south Nevada Avenue/Tejon Street will be required in mid-June. The left, two outside-through lanes of southbound I-25 will split onto existing northbound pavement, and the right lane of southbound I-25 will split on to the existing southbound pavement. Northbound I-25 will shift to the east, utilizing the shoulder. (See the split-lane configuration).

This split-lane configuration will be in place for several months to level out lane elevations and prepare for the final alignment of I-25.  

Activities to expect in summer 2016:

June:

• a full overnight closure of southbound I-25 (Cimarron Street/US 24 to south Nevada Avenue/Tejon Street) to install traffic control for the split, restripe and move barrier
• overnight lane restrictions on westbound US 24 to switch traffic onto new pavement
• lane restrictions on southbound I-25 for paving operations

July:

• full overnight closures of US 24 at the I-25 Bridge to set I-25 Phase 1 girders
• full overnight closures on Cimarron Street (between Sierra Madre and US 24) to set girders for the Cimarron over Fountain Creek Bridge
• lane restrictions on US 24 for shift to permanent lane configuration west of I-25

August:

• a full overnight closure of I-25 southbound off-ramp for permanent alignment across permanent bridge

Various overnight lane restrictions and traffic realignments on I-25 and Cimarron Street/US 24 will continue to allow for removals, restriping and paving activities; to set barrier; and for bridge construction. This phase is anticipated to continue through late winter 2016.

• Eastbound Cimarron Street between I-25 and Sierra Madre St. will continue to be reduced to one lane throughout the summer.
• Westbound Cimarron Street between I-25 and Sierra Madre St. will continue to be reduced to two lanes throughout the summer.

Other Things to Expect:

• speed reduction to 55 mph on I-25 between Colorado Avenue and south Nevada/Tejon Street, and speed reduction to 30 mph on US 24 between 8^th Street and I-25
• narrowed lanes and reduced shoulders
• three lanes maintained northbound and southbound I-25 during the day

Project Coordination

The I-25 Fillmore Project and I-25 Cimarron Interchange Project teams coordinate schedules when possible to minimize impacts to the travelling public during construction.

Project Information:

The $113 million I-25/Cimarron Interchange Design-Build Project involves rebuilding the I-25 interchange between Colorado Avenue on the north and South Nevada Avenue to the south, 8th Street on the west and the Cimarron Street over Fountain Creek bridge on the east. Improvements are intended to provide enhanced operations, correct existing safety and design deficiencies, and to serve the anticipated short- and long-term travel demands in this area. When complete, this will be a high-functioning interchange that safely handles more vehicles and enhances multi-modal travel for those using I-25, US 24/Cimarron Street and the trail system along Monument and Fountain creeks. Substantial completion is planned for end of 2017.