Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program Updates for Week of October 1

Travel Advisory

September 29, 2023 - Southeastern Colorado - Nighttime I-25 off-ramp closures rescheduled at Mesa Ridge Parkway; South Academy Boulevard closures due to bridge work

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) on Friday, September 29, beginning at 7 p.m. for concrete roadway paving. All lanes will reopen at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

Full closure of northbound I-25 off-ramp at Mesa Ridge Parkway:

  • Friday, September 29, 7:00 p.m. to Saturday, September 30, 9:00 a.m.

Full closure of northbound I-25 on-ramp at Mesa Ridge Parkway:

  • Friday, September 29, 8:00 p.m. to Saturday, September 30, 9:00 a.m.

Detours will be in place:

  • Traffic intending to exit at Mesa Ridge Parkway will continue north to South Academy Boulevard (mile 135), where they will turn around and re-enter I-25 south to Mesa Ridge Parkway
  • Traffic intending to enter 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
I-25 Mesa Ridge Parkway ramp detour map
I-25 / Mesa Ridge Parkway ramps closure / detour map

There will also be a temporary closure of the northbound I-25 off-ramp at South Academy Boulevard (mile 135) on Saturday, September 30, beginning at 8 p.m. for concrete roadway paving. All lanes will reopen at 9 a.m. Sunday. Detours will be in place:

  • 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.
Detour map of temporary closure of the northbound I-25 off-ramp at South Academy Boulevard
Detour map of temporary closure of the northbound I-25 off-ramp at South Academy Boulevard.

Also, there will be temporary closures of east- and westbound South Academy Boulevard lanes under Interstate 25 and a detour of southbound I-25 using on- and off-ramps over South Academy Boulevard as part of the MAMSIP bridge reconstruction project. Work is expected to be performed during evening hours on Friday, October 6, so construction crews can continue work on the I-25 bridges over South Academy Boulevard.

Full closure of westbound South Academy Boulevard

  • Friday, October 6, 7 p.m. to Saturday, October 7, 5:30 a.m.

Full closure of eastbound South Academy Boulevard

  • Friday, October 6, 8 p.m. to Saturday, October 7, 7:30 a.m.

Re-route traffic on southbound I-25 using S. Academy Boulevard off- and on-ramps

  • Friday, October 6, 9 p.m. to Saturday, October 7, 5:30 a.m.

Detours will be in place:

  • Eastbound South Academy Boulevard traffic will be diverted south on I-25 to Colorado Highway 16 (exit 132A), where they will turn around and re-enter I-25 north to South Academy Boulevard
  • Westbound South Academy Boulevard traffic will be diverted north on I-25 to Lake Avenue/South Circle Drive (exit 138), where they will turn around and re-enter I-25 south to South Academy Boulevard
  • Southbound I-25 traffic will take exit 135 off-ramp and re-enter the on-ramp to continue south
Detour map of temporary closure of the South Academy Boulevard under I-25
Detour map of temporary closure of the South Academy Boulevard under I-25.

El Paso County – MAMSIP – South Academy Boulevard Widening Project

Bradley Road under the South Academy Boulevard bridge will be closed Wednesday, October 4, 7 p.m. to Thursday, October 5, 4:30 a.m. and Thursday, October 5, 7 p.m. to Friday, October 6, 4:30 a.m. for utility work.

Detours will be in place:

  • Eastbound Bradley Road traffic will be diverted south on South Academy Boulevard, exit onto the CanAm Highway, turn around and re-enter South Academy northbound to the Bradley Road exit, and turn east
  • Westbound Bradley Road traffic will be diverted to Hancock Expressway, turn north and turn west onto Milton Proby Parkway, turn south and travel to the Bradley Road exit, or turn north to continue on northbound South Academy

All lanes on Bradley Road under South Academy Boulevard will be shifted to the north side of the roadway ongoing to allow crews to perform drilling for new caisson construction.

All lanes on Bradley Road under South Academy Boulevard will be shifted to the north side of the roadway ongoing to allow crews to perform drilling for new caisson construction.

Drivers can anticipate an ongoing left lane closure on northbound and southbound South Academy Boulevard over Bradley Road through March, and an ongoing auxiliary lane closure on northbound South Academy Boulevard between Hartford Street and Fountain Creek through mid-December. Fountain Creek Regional Trail is closed under South Academy Boulevard for approximately five months (March 2024). Detours are in place.

These closures are weather dependent and subject to change.

Traffic Impacts

Night work on northbound I-25 at Mesa Ridge Parkway (mile 132)

  • Friday, September 29
    • Full closure of northbound I-25 off-ramp, 7 p.m. to 9 a.m.
    • Full closure of northbound I-25 on-ramp, 8 p.m. to 9 a.m.

Night work on I-25 at South Academy Boulevard (mile 135)

  • Saturday, September 30, 8 p.m. to 9 a.m.
    • Full closure of northbound I-25 off-ramp at South Academy Boulevard
  • Friday, October 6
    • Full closure of westbound South Academy Boulevard, 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
    • Full closure of eastbound South Academy Boulevard, 8 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.
    • Re-route traffic on southbound I-25, 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., using South Academy Boulevard exit 135 off-ramp and re-enter the on-ramp to continue south

South Academy Boulevard Widening Project

  • Wednesday night, October 4, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. and Thursday night, October 5, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m., full closure of Bradley Road under the South Academy Boulevard bridge
  • Ongoing impacts / closures
    • Northbound and southbound left lane closure at South Academy Boulevard over Bradley Road, in place for approximately five months
    • Northbound auxiliary lane closure on South Academy Boulevard between Hartford Street and Fountain Creek closed through mid-December
    • Shift of all lanes on Bradley Road to north side of roadway under South Academy Boulevard bridge
    • 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!

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!