I-25/Cimarron Project Hits Major Milestone as it Enters Final Phase

COLORADO SPRINGS—Following last night's work, CDOT has opened both sides of the Interstate 25 bridge over US 24/Cimarron Street and placed traffic on new, permanent I-25 pavement. Traffic is now in its final configuration, marking a major project milestone and moving the project into phase 3, final construction. The project is on schedule to be fully complete by December 2017.

The new I-25 bridge at US 24/Cimarron Street was constructed as a full-width structure, and provides CDOT and the city of Colorado Springs many immediate and future safety, capacity and operational benefits:

• It eliminates the expense and inconvenience of additional impactful widening at a future date.
• It eliminates the need to tie into an existing bridge for future widening, which improves the quality of the bridge structure.
• It enhances the quality of the bridge aesthetics.
• It allows for all I-25 traffic on the new southbound bridge, which simplified the phasing, eliminating the need for an additional phase to accommodate a traffic switch.
• It allows for ultimate concrete width constructed on southbound I-25 as far south as Bear Creek. This additional southbound concrete improves shoulder width and increases sight distance for the southern curve, improving safety.

"There will continue to be traffic impacts as we approach project completion," said Dave Watt, CDOT project manager. "We understand this is inconvenient for the traveling public, and appreciate their patience and cooperation."

Here is what motorists can expect in Phase 3 (Aug. 1 through December 2017 project completion):

• paving on I-25 and US 24/Cimarron Street, requiring various closures
• landscaping installation
• finish aesthetics
• median barrier, lighting and conduit installation
• final striping
• storm drainage outfalls, laterals/inlet tie-ins
• finish island/median curbs and median cover
• complete remaining trails and stream improvements
• complete Colorado Avenue bridge work

Please keep in mind that all work is weather dependent and subject to change.