South Academy to NB I-25 ramp meter operational beginning Aug 17

News Release

August 13, 2020 - Southeastern Colorado

Colorado Springs – The Colorado Department of Transportation and contractor Main Electric have completed installation of signals at 12 different on ramp locations along I-25. CDOT performed testing of the first signal on August 11. The NB on-ramp at South Academy will be the first to be operational beginning on Monday.  

The ramp metering devices will make the road safer by improving traffic flow and by providing more gaps for merging traffic, provide automated monitoring and will be triggered by I-25 average running speed and will use technology to monitor the queue and control the flow of traffic. Installing ramp metering signals provide a cost-effective solution to increase traffic flow without increasing lanes of travel. This is the first installation of ramp meters south of Douglas County. 

Listed below, the new signals are located on 12 different on ramp locations and will be phased in over the next two months. Testing will be required at each location before the ramp meter signal is operational:

  • South Academy Boulevard to NB I-25
  • West Bijou Street to NB I-25
  • W. Uintah Street to SB I-25
  • W. Uintah Street to NB I-25
  • Fontanero Street to NB I-25
  • Fontanero Street to SB I-25
  • Fillmore Street to SB I-25
  • Fillmore Street to NB I-25
  • Garden of the Gods Road to NB I-25
  • Garden of the Gods Road to SB I-25
  • South Rockrimmon Boulevard to SB I-25
  • North Nevada Avenue to NB I-25

What is ramp metering?

Ramp meters are traffic signals installed on freeway on ramps to control the frequency at which vehicles enter the flow of traffic on the freeway. 

How do they work?

Without ramp meters in operation, multiple vehicles merge causing drivers on I-25 to slow down or vacate lane in order to allow vehicles to enter. These slower speeds on I-25 and the on ramp, quickly lead to congestion and stop-and-go conditions. Ramp meters will reduce the traffic congestion by controlling the rate at which vehicles enter I-25 from the on ramp. This allows vehicles to merge smoothly onto I-25 and reduces the need for vehicles on I-25 to reduce their speed at metered on ramp locations.

Smart technologies provide high efficiency for merging traffic

  1. Vehicle pulls up to stop bar

  2. Vehicle detected; signal turns green

  3. Vehicle merges onto freeway traffic

About ramp metering

Mobility, Reliability, and Efficiency

Ramp metering reduces I-25 congestion and overall delay, while increasing mobility through the freeway network. Travel time reliability has become an important measure of ramp metering effectiveness that is linked to reduced travel times. Ramp metering will decrease the travel times along I-25 and extend reliability of these trips.

Safety

Ramp meters help reduce the congestion of motorists that are entering the freeway and competing for the same limited gaps in traffic. By creating smooth merging maneuvers, collisions on the freeway will be avoided. By adding ramp metering to congested freeways, significant reductions in crash rates are projected. Effective ramp queue management will prevent queues from spilling onto the adjacent arterial and clogging up the city street network with stopped vehicles that are waiting to enter the freeway.

Project Contact Information

COVID-19

Safe transportation infrastructure is essential for emergency first responders and freight drivers as Colorado navigates the COVID-19 pandemic. With that in mind, road maintenance and construction continues on CDOT projects with social distancing and other health safety measures to reduce COVID-19 exposure on the worksite. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced guidelines for construction activities. The public is urged to join the campaign for #DoingMyPartCO by practicing social distancing, wearing face masks, staying at home when possible, and avoiding nonessential travel. With fewer vehicles on the roads, CDOT crews will be able to work more efficiently and safely. 

Remember: Slow for the Cone Zone

The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones.

  • Do not speed in work zones. Obey the posted speed limits.
  • Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected.
  • Watch for workers. Drive with caution.
  • Don't change lanes unnecessarily.
  • Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones.
  • Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you.
  • Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.
  • Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
  • Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.
  • Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so.
  • Be patient!

Whole System. Whole Safety.

In early 2019, CDOT announced its Whole System — Whole Safety initiative to heighten safety awareness. This initiative takes a systematic, statewide approach to safety combining the benefits of CDOT’s programs that address driving behaviors, our built environment and the organization's operations. The goal is to improve the safety of Colorado’s transportation network by reducing the rate and severity of crashes and improving the safety of all transportation modes. The program has one simple mission — to get everyone home safely.

About CDOT

CDOT has approximately 3,000 employees located throughout Colorado, and manages more than 23,000 lane miles of highway and 3,429 bridges. CDOT also manages grant partnerships with a range of other agencies, including metropolitan planning organizations, local governments and airports. It also administers Bustang, the state-owned and operated interregional express service. Governor Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s intermodal mobility options.  

File icon ColoSprings RampMeter.mp4

Project Limits of Construction Work Zone South Academy Blvd to North Nevada Avenue