Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program Updates for Week of July 28, 2024

Travel Advisory

July 26, 2024 - Nighttime Interstate 25 off-ramp and lane closures planned for striping

Colorado Springs —­­­­ The Colorado Department of Transportation will temporarily close the southbound Interstate 25 off-ramps, near Fort Carson Gate 20, Exits 132A and 132B at Mesa Ridge Parkway on Monday, July 29, 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. to allow crews to install permanent striping at the gore point. This closure is necessary for the safety of the traveling public. A detour will be in place:

  • Traffic exiting at 132B and 132A will travel south to Santa Fe Avenue (MP 128), turn around and continue north to exit 132.
Detour map for I-25 off-ramp closures and exits 132A and 132B
Detour map for I-25 off-ramp closures and exits 132A and 132B

On Tuesday, July 30, 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., there will be temporary northbound I-25 on- and off-ramp closures at Mesa Ridge Parkway to allow crews to install permanent gore striping. Detours will be in place:

  • Traffic exiting at Mesa Ridge Parkway will continue north to South Academy Boulevard (MP 135), turn around and travel south to MP 132B and 132A.
  • Northbound I-25 traffic will travel south to Santa Fe Avenue (MP 128), turn around and enter I-25 North.
Detour map for northbound I-25 on- and off-ramp closures at Mesa Ridge Parkway
Detour map for northbound I-25 on- and off-ramp closures at Mesa Ridge Parkway

There will also be a series of nighttime alternating left and right lane closures on north- and southbound I-25 between South Academy Boulevard and Santa Fe Avenue (Mile Point 135 to 128) next week to allow crews to install permanent lane and shoulder striping.

The speed limit in this area has been reduced to 60 MPH. Traffic delays of 10 to 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 — A temporary closure of the on-ramp from Hartford Street to northbound South Academy Boulevard is ongoing and will last approximately four weeks. This closure is necessary to allow crews to install drainage pipes across the road and reconstruct the Hartford ramp. Full closures decrease the duration of traffic impacts and increase safety for the traveling public and crews.

A detour will be in place:

  • Traffic intending to enter northbound South Academy Boulevard will continue north to Welton Drive, travel east to Maxwell Street and turn north to East Las Vegas Street (CanAm Highway), and travel southeast to enter South Academy.

There will be a flagged one-way road on Bradley Road for bridge deck work Monday, July 29 and Tuesday July 30, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

There will be a right lane closure on southbound South Academy Boulevard from Milton Proby to Bradley Road to allow crews to remove existing lighting on Monday, July 29, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.

There will be alternating lane closures and mobile lane closures on northbound South Academy Boulevard between Bradley Road and Milton Proby Parkway on Thursday, August 1, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. to allow crews to apply lane striping and reset barriers for a traffic switch towards the inside lanes. This new alignment will be in place for approximately five months to allow crews to perform drainage and median work. In case of weather impacts, a contingency night is scheduled for Friday, August 2, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.

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)

  • Southbound I-25 off-ramp closures at Exit 132A and 132B, Monday, July 29, 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Use detour route
  • Northbound I-25 on- and off-ramp closures at MP 132, Tuesday, July 30, 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Use detour routes
  • Southbound I-25 alternating lane closures at Santa Fe Avenue (MP 131 to 129), Monday, July 29 and Tuesday, July 30, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
  • Northbound I-25 alternating lane closures at Santa Fe Avenue (MP 131 to 129), Tuesday, July 30, 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
  • I-25 alternating lane closures at Santa Fe Avenue, Wednesday, July 31
    • Northbound I-25, 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
    • Southbound I-25, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
  • I-25 alternating lane closures between South Academy Boulevard and Mesa Ridge Parkway, Thursday, August 1
    • Northbound I-25, 6 p.m. to 5 a.m.
    • Southbound I-25, 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
  • I-25 alternating lane closures between Santa Fe Avenue and Mile Point 133, Friday, August 2 (contingency)
    • Northbound I-25, 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
    • Southbound I-25, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

South Academy Boulevard Widening Project

  • Flagged one-way road on Bradley Road for bridge deck work Monday, July 29 and Tuesday July 30, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Alternating lane closures and mobile lane closures on northbound South Academy Boulevard between Bradley Road and Milton Proby Parkway, Thursday, August 1, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
  • Alternating lane closures and mobile lane closures on northbound South Academy Boulevard between Bradley Road and Milton Proby Parkway, Friday, August 2, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. (contingency)
  • Ongoing shift of eastbound South Academy Boulevard between I-25 and Fountain Creek to middle until Spring 2025
  • Ongoing temporary full closure of Hartford Street on-ramp to northbound South Academy Boulevard. Use detour route.
  • 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 US 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 US 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 (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!