Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program Updates for Week of August 18, 2024

Colorado Springs —­­­­ The Colorado Department of Transportation will temporary close east- and westbound South Academy Boulevard lanes under I-25 and detour north- and southbound I-25 using on- and off-ramps at South Academy Boulevard as part of the bridge reconstruction project. Application of a polyester overlay and other remaining work on the bridge deck at South Academy Boulevard is planned during nighttime hours on Sunday, August 18 through Thursday, August 22.

Full closure of eastbound South Academy Boulevard

• Sunday, August 18, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• Monday, August 19 through Thursday, August 22, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Full closure of westbound South Academy Boulevard

• Sunday, August 18, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
• Monday, August 19 through Thursday, August 22, 6 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.

Re-route traffic on southbound I-25 using South Academy Boulevard ramps

• Sunday, August 18 through Tuesday, August 20, 8 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.

Re-route traffic on northbound I-25 using South Academy Boulevard ramp

• Monday, August 19 through Thursday, August 22, 8 p.m. to 4:30 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
• North- and southbound I-25 traffic will take the exit 135 off-ramp and re-enter the on-ramp to continue.

Also, there will be several I-25 lane closures during nighttime hours on Sunday, August 18 through Thursday, August 22 to allow crews to install final permanent signs as construction nears completion.

• Northbound I-25 alternating lane closures between Mesa Ridge Parkway and Santa Fe Avenue
  • Sunday, August 18, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• North- and southbound I-25 right lane closures between Mesa Ridge Parkway and Santa Fe Avenue
  • Monday, August 19 and Tuesday, August 20, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• North- and southbound I-25 right lane closures between South Academy Boulevard and Santa Fe Avenue
  • Wednesday, August 21 and Thursday, August 22, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The speed limit in this area has been reduced to 60 MPH. Traffic delays of 10-15 minutes are expected and motorists are urged to use extra caution while traveling in the area. Fines will be doubled through the construction zone.

El Paso County – MAMSIP – South Academy Boulevard Widening Project

Colorado Springs — There will be a temporary closure of the South Academy Boulevard off-ramp to southbound Hartford Street starting Monday, August 19 at 6:30 a.m. This closure is necessary to allow crews to install drainage pipes across the road and reconstruct the Hartford on and off ramps. This closure will be in place for approximately four weeks. Full closures decrease the duration of traffic impacts and increase safety for the traveling public and crews.

A detour will be in place:

• Eastbound South Academy Boulevard exiting to Hartford Street will continue east to U.S. 85/87, turn around and travel west to Coventry Drive, travel north to Welton Drive, turn west and travel to southbound Hartford Street.

Northbound South Academy Boulevard at Bradley Road and the Bradley Road on-ramp to northbound South Academy Boulevard will be temporarily closed on Friday, August 23 at 7 p.m. to Saturday, August 24, at 5 p.m. to allow crews to install drainage pipe across the roadway. A detour will be in place:

• Northbound traffic exiting South Academy Boulevard will continue to Milton F. Proby Parkway, turn east onto Hancock Expressway, and turn west onto Bradley Road.
• Bradley Road traffic intending to enter northbound South Academy Boulevard will travel east to Hancock Expressway, turn north to Milton F. Proby Parkway, and travel west to join South Academy Boulevard.

A shift of northbound South Academy Boulevard between Bradley Road and Milton Proby Parkway towards the center is ongoing to allow crews to perform drainage and median work. The new alignment will be in place for approximately five months.

A diversion of Coventry Drive traffic intending to travel west on South Academy is ongoing: westbound traffic will enter northbound I-25, travel to South Circle Drive (Mile Point 138), turn around and continue south to exit 135 to continue westbound South Academy. This detour will be in place for approximately one month.

A shift of eastbound South Academy Boulevard between I-25 and Fountain Creek towards the center is ongoing to allow crews to work on the outside lanes, install drainage pipes, and prepare to construct a noise barrier. This alignment will be in place approximately until spring 2025.

Motorists are also advised that the shift of the northbound I-25 off-ramp to northbound South Academy Boulevard to a new alignment is ongoing and will have a short acceleration lane.

Motorists are advised to use caution at all entrance ramps as merge lengths have been shortened. In particular, motorists should be prepared to stop on the US 85/87 on-ramp to eastbound South Academy and the Bradley Road on-ramp to eastbound South Academy since merge area is greatly reduced.

All lanes of Bradley Road under South Academy Boulevard are shifted to the center of the roadway ongoing to allow crews to perform work on new bridge piers.

These closures are weather dependent and subject to change.

Traffic Impacts

I-25 between US 85/Fountain (MP 127) and South Academy Boulevard (MP 135) Eastbound and Westbound South Academy Boulevard at I-25

• Full closure of eastbound South Academy Boulevard under I-25
  • Sunday, August 18, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
  • Monday, August 19 through Thursday, August 22, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• Full closure of westbound South Academy Boulevard under I-25
  • Sunday, August 18, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
  • Monday, August 19 through Thursday, August 22, 6 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
• Re-route traffic on southbound I-25 using South Academy Boulevard ramps
  • Sunday, August 18 through Tuesday, August 20, 8 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
• Re-route traffic on northbound I-25 using South Academy Boulevard ramps
  • Monday, August 19 through Thursday, August 22, 8 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
• Northbound I-25 alternating lane closures between Mesa Ridge Parkway and Santa Fe Avenue
  • Sunday, August 18, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• North- and southbound I-25 right lane closures between Mesa Ridge Parkway and Santa Fe Avenue
  • Monday, August 19 and Tuesday, August 20, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• North- and southbound I-25 right lane closures between South Academy Boulevard and Santa Fe Avenue
  • Wednesday, August 21 and Thursday, August 22, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

South Academy Boulevard Widening Project

• Alternating left and right lane closures on northbound South Academy Boulevard between Fountain Creek and Bradley Road, for Monday August 19 through Friday, August 23, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
• Temporary full closure of northbound South Academy Boulevard off-ramp to Hartford Street starting Monday, August 19, 6:30 a.m. in place for approximately four weeks. Use detour route. The Hartford on-ramp to northbound South Academy Boulevard will be open to traffic on Friday, August 16th
• Northbound South Academy Boulevard at Bradley Road and the Bradley Road on-ramp to northbound South Academy Boulevard temporary closure, Friday, August 23 at 7 p.m. to Saturday, August 24, at 5 p.m. Use detour route
• Ongoing shift of eastbound South Academy Boulevard between I-25 and Fountain Creek to middle until spring 2025
• Ongoing shift of westbound South Academy Boulevard lanes between I-25 and Fountain Creek to middle until spring 2025
• Ongoing Southbound Coventry Drive detour to westbound South Academy (in place for approximately one month)
• Full closure of existing southbound South Academy Boulevard on-ramp from U.S. 85/87 and shift to temporary on-ramp, in place until fall 2024
• Ongoing full closure of existing northbound South Academy Boulevard on-ramp from U.S. 85/87 and shift to temporary on-ramp, in place until fall 2024
• Ongoing shift of all lanes on Bradley Road under South Academy Boulevard bridge

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 (US 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 US 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

• Website: codot.gov/projects/militaryaccesssafetyimprovements
• Email: [email protected]
• Hotline: 719-800-2162
• Register for Alerts: Text MAMSIP to 888-970-9665

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:

• Road conditions and travel information: COtrip.org
• Download the COtrip Planner app: bit.ly/COtripapp
• Sign up for project or travel alerts: bit.ly/COnewsalerts
• See scheduled construction lane closures: bit.ly/laneclosures
• Connect with @ColoradoDOT on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube

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!