Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program Updates for Week of December 3

Travel Advisory

December 1, 2023 - Full closure of westbound South Academy Boulevard over Fountain Creek; nighttime I-25 off-ramp closures scheduled

Colorado Springs —­­ The Colorado Department of Transportation has scheduled temporary closures of the northbound I-25 on- and off-ramps at Mesa Ridge Parkway (mile 132) and the northbound I-25 off-ramp at South Academy Boulevard (mile 135) on Thursday, Dec. 7 to allow crews to grind and seal roadway concrete pavement joints. All ramps will reopen at 6 a.m.

  • Thursday, Dec. 7, 6 p.m. – 6 a.m.
    • Full closure of northbound I-25 off-ramp at Mesa Ridge Parkway
  • Thursday, Dec. 7, 7 p.m. – 5 a.m.
    • Full closure of northbound I-25 on-ramp at Mesa Ridge Parkway
    • Full closure of northbound I-25 on-ramp at South Academy Boulevard
Detour route for northbound I-25 ramp closures at Mesa Ridge Parkway and South Academy Boulevard.
Detour route for northbound I-25 ramp closures at Mesa Ridge Parkway and South Academy Boulevard.

Detours will be in place:

  • Traffic intending to exit at Mesa Ridge Parkway will continue north to Lake Avenue/South Circle Drive (mile 138), where they will turn around and re-enter I-25 south to Mesa Ridge Parkway.
  • Traffic intending to exit at South Academy Boulevard will continue north to Lake Avenue/South Circle Drive (mile 138), where they will turn around and re-enter I-25 south to South Academy Boulevard.
  • Traffic intending to take northbound I-25 at Mesa Ridge Parkway will enter I-25 south to Santa Fe Avenue (mile 128), turn around and enter I-25 north.

Drivers can also anticipate a southbound I-25 right lane closure between South Academy Boulevard and Mesa Ridge Parkway on Thursday, Dec. 4 beginning at 7 p.m. The closure will allow crews to perform work on a drainage culvert. All lanes will reopen at 6 a.m.

In mid-December, a nighttime northbound I-25 traffic switch will require I-25 to be closed at the US 85/87 interchange (mile 128). The northbound off-ramp to South Academy Boulevard will also be closed. Northbound I-25 traffic will shift to the east on permanent pavement to allow crews to work on the outside of the current northbound lanes between Mile Post 128 and 132.

  • Traffic getting off at US 85/87 will continue to South Academy Boulevard to get back on I-25.
  • Northbound off-ramp to South Academy Boulevard motorists will continue to Circle Drive and return southbound to access South Academy Boulevard.

El Paso County – MAMSIP – South Academy Boulevard Widening Project

Colorado Springs —­­ Effective November 28, there is a full closure of westbound South Academy Boulevard between US 85 and I-25 over Fountain Creek. This will be an ongoing closure for scour bridge investigation and countermeasures. Drivers should use alternate routes.

Detours will be in place:

Westbound South Academy Boulevard will be closed from US 85 to I-25.

  • Westbound South Academy Boulevard will be closed from US 85 to I-25.

Traffic needing to use westbound South Academy Boulevard from US 85 should use CO 16 or I-25 south of US 85 to continue on northbound I-25 to access westbound South Academy Boulevard west of I-25.

  • Traffic needing to use westbound South Academy Boulevard from US 85 should use CO 16 or I-25 south of US 85 to continue on northbound I-25 to access westbound South Academy Boulevard west of I-25.

Traffic needing to access the Stratmoor Valley neighborhood shall use northbound I-25 and exit South Academy Boulevard continue east and exit at Hartford Street to enter neighborhood.

  • Traffic needing to access the Stratmoor Valley neighborhood shall use northbound I-25 and exit South Academy Boulevard continue east and exit at Hartford Street to enter neighborhood.

Also, there will be 24-hour ongoing left lane closures on northbound and southbound South Academy Boulevard over Fountain Creek on Friday, Dec. 1 and Saturday, Dec. 2 for drainage line work in the median. These closures will be in place for approximately 5 to 6 months.

A left lane closure is ongoing for northbound and southbound South Academy Boulevard over Bradley Road to allow crews to perform bridge work. This left lane closure will be in place for approximately three months.

There will also be an ongoing auxiliary lane closure on northbound South Academy Boulevard between Hartford Street and Fountain Creek through mid-December for drainage line work.

These closures are weather dependent and subject to change.

Traffic Impacts

Night work on I-25 between U.S. 85/Fountain (mile 127) and South Academy Boulevard (mile 135)

  • Southbound I-25 right lane closure between mile points 135 and 132
    • Thursday, Dec. 7, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
  • Northbound I-25 off-ramp closures at mile point 132
    • Thursday, Dec. 7, 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
  • Northbound I-25 on-ramp closures at mile point 132
    • Thursday, Dec. 7, 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
  • Northbound I-25 off-ramp closures at mile point 135
    • Thursday, Dec. 7, 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.

South Academy Boulevard Widening Project

  • Ongoing full closure of westbound South Academy Boulevard over Fountain Creek beginning Tuesday night, Nov. 28
  • Friday, Dec. 1, 7 p.m. to Saturday, Dec. 2, 7 p.m., full closure of Bradley Road under the South Academy Boulevard bridge
  • Ongoing northbound and southbound left lane closure at South Academy Boulevard over Bradley Road, in place for approximately five months
  • Ongoing northbound auxiliary lane closure on South Academy Boulevard between Hartford Street and Fountain Creek. This auxiliary lane will be closed through mid-December
  • Ongoing shift of all lanes on Bradley Road to north side (Sunday and Monday) and south side (Tuesday and ongoing) of roadway under South Academy Boulevard bridge
  • Ongoing closure of the Fountain Creek Regional Trail under South Academy Boulevard

Project Overview

Interstate-25 – Safety and Efficiency Improvements
The improvements to I-25 addressed in this project are located along an approximately 7.5-mile segment of south I-25 beginning at South Academy Boulevard and extending to the Santa Fe Avenue (U.S. 85/87) exit at Fountain (MP 128), which exits to Gate 19 of Fort Carson. The project includes:

  • Replacement of two bridges crossing over South Academy Boulevard
  • Widening of both inside and outside shoulders and installing safety improvements
  • Concrete surface treatment overlay to provide an improved riding surface
  • Installation of median barrier
  • Rehab and widening work on four bridges
  • Installation of an I-25 southbound deceleration lane at the interchange with CO 16

South Academy Boulevard Widening Project

The improvements to South Academy Boulevard in this project are located on South Academy Boulevard at the southern mile and a half of this arterial road from the I-25 interchange, crossing U.S. Highway 85/ 87, and continuing to the road’s approach to Milton Proby Parkway (which connects to Powers Boulevard/CO 21). Construction focuses on widening an approximately 1.5-mile section of South Academy Boulevard from two lanes to three in each direction to alleviate recurring congestion. The project includes improved drainage facilities, lighting, striping, and expanded shoulders, modified merge lanes, sound walls and bridgework. The project is expected to be complete by early 2026. This project is managed by El Paso County.

Safety Benefits

CDOT conducted a safety assessment for the corridor to evaluate the magnitude and nature of safety problems and analyze the causes of crashes. These transportation improvements are mitigation measures to reduce crashes, improve infrastructure, and address physical deficiencies that contribute to crashes in the corridor. Over the next 20 years, the project is estimated to result in fewer deaths, injuries and crashes on the four MAMSIP corridors.

Project Contact Information

About the Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program Build Grant

Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has initiated a program to deliver more efficient and safer mobility along I-25, Colorado Highway 94, South Academy Boulevard, and Charter Oak Ranch Road, enabling economic stability and development. The Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program is partially funded through an $18 million BUILD grant award from the US Department of Transportation. The delivery of these improvements will strengthen and enhance the redundancy of strategic movement between the nationally significant El Paso County military installations of Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, and Schriever Space Force Base.

Know Before You Go

Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts and anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:

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!

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