Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program Updates for Week of July 16

Travel Advisory

July 14, 2023 - Southeastern Colorado - Northbound Interstate 25 ramp closure for concrete placement

Colorado Springs —­­ Ramp closures for this week to facilitate concrete pavement work have been rescheduled. There will now be northbound I-25 on- and off-ramp closures at Colorado Highway 16 (mile 132) for the placement of concrete pavement. Both ramps will be closed on Friday night, July 21 and July 28. The ramps will close at 8 p.m. and will reopen at 9 a.m. Saturday. In addition, these ramps will be closed Sunday night, July 23, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. and Monday, July 24 through Thursday, July 27, 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly.

Detours will be in place: 

  • Traffic exiting I-25 will continue north to exit 135, turn west onto S. Academy Blvd., re-enter I-25 southbound and travel to exit 132A or 132B.
  • Traffic entering I-25 will proceed west on Mesa Ridge Parkway – use southbound on-ramp, travel south to Exit 128, turn east onto Santa Fe Avenue, and re-enter I-25 northbound.
  • Detour information for I-25 on-ramp at Mesa Ridge Parkway (mile 132) includes:
    • Traffic will proceed west on Mesa Ridge Parkway – use southbound on-ramp, travel, south to Exit 128, turn east onto Santa Fe Avenue, and re-enter I-25 northbound.
Detour map for northbound I-25 on-ramp closure
Detour map for northbound I-25 on-ramp closure

Beginning at 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 16, and continuing until Friday, July 21, drivers can anticipate nightly right lane closures on southbound I-25. All lanes reopen daily at 6 a.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. on Saturday.

There will also be mobile northbound and southbound I-25 closures on Tuesday night, July 17 beginning at 6 p.m. between milepost 127 and milepost 135 to refresh striping.

These closures are weather dependent and subject to change.

Traffic on I-25 will be head-to-head, separated by temporary barrier with 11-foot lanes and 2-foot shoulders. The traffic configuration will be in place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Normal working hours will be 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday. The speed limit in this area has been reduced to 55 MPH. Slight traffic delays are expected and motorists are urged to use extra caution while traveling in the new traffic pattern. Fines will be double through the construction zone.

Traffic Impacts

I-25 between US 85/Fountain (mile 127) and South Academy Boulevard (mile 135)
Nighttime closures:

  • Sunday, July 16, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., southbound I-25 right lane closure between mile 132 to 128
  • Sunday, July 16, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., southbound I-25 right lane closure between mile 135 to 132
  • Monday, July 17, 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., northbound and southbound I-25 mobile lane closure between 127 to 135
  • Monday, July 17 through Thursday, July 20, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., southbound I-25 right lane closure between mile 135 to 128
  • Work Canceled: Wednesday, July 19 through Thursday, July 20, 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., CO 16 northbound on-ramp to I-25 closure (mile 132). Use detour route.
  • Update: Friday, July 21 and July 28, 8 p.m. to 9 a.m., CO 16 northbound on- and off-ramp closures at I-25 (mile 132). Use detour routes.
  • Friday, July 21, 8 p.m. to 9 a.m., southbound I-25 right lane closure between mile 132 to 128
  • Friday, July 21, 9 p.m. to 8 a.m., southbound I-25 right lane closure between mile 135 to 132
  • Sunday, July 23, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., CO 16 northbound on- and off-ramp closures at I-25 (mile 132). Use detour routes.
  • Monday, July 24 through Thursday, July 27, 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly, CO 16 northbound on- and off-ramp closures at I-25 (mile 132). Use detour routes.

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

Colorado Highway 94

  • Safety and efficiency improvements with the addition of passing lanes, turn lanes, road widening and the installation of fiber on CO 94, which connects Schriever Space Force Base with Peterson Space Force Base and central Colorado Springs.

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 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!

Download the COtrip App!

The new FREE COtrip Planner mobile app was designed to meet the growing trend of information on mobile and tablet devices for the traveling public. The COtrip Planner app provides statewide, real-time traffic information, and works on mobile devices that operate on the iOS and Android platforms. Visit the Google Play Store (Android devices) or the Apple Store (iOS devices) to download!