Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program Updates for Week of October 20, 2024

Colorado Springs —­­­­ The Colorado Department of Transportation will temporarily close north- and southbound Interstate 25 between South Academy Boulevard and Santa Fe Avenue on several nights during the week of Oct. 20 as work is completed on the MAMSIP I-25 Safety and Efficiency Improvements project. Crews will install drains along the roadway edge and make minor concrete repairs during nighttime hours on Monday, Oct. 21 through Thursday, Oct. 24. These closures are necessary for the safety of the traveling public and work crews.

Temporary full closure of northbound I-25 between South Academy Boulevard and Santa Fe Avenue:

• Monday, Oct. 21, 8 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
  A detour will be in place: Northbound I-25 traffic will exit at Santa Fe Avenue (exit 128), travel north on the CanAm Highway (US 85/87) to South Academy Boulevard, turn west and re-enter I-25 North (MP 135).

Temporary full closures of southbound I-25 between Santa Fe Avenue and South Academy Boulevard:

• Tuesday, Oct. 22 through Thursday, Oct. 24, 8 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
  A detour will be in place: Southbound I-25 traffic will exit at South Academy Boulevard (exit 135), travel to the CanAm Highway (US 85/87), turn south and continue to Santa Fe Avenue to re-enter I-25 (MP 128).

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 — There will be overnight right lane closures on northbound South Academy Boulevard between the Bradley Road on-ramp and Milton Proby Parkway on Tuesday, Oct. 22 through Wednesday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. to allow crews to perform drainage work.

A temporary overnight full closure of northbound South Academy Boulevard between I-25 and US 85/87 is planned for Friday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. to Monday, Oct. 28, at 4:30 a.m. for Fountain Creek bridge deck repairs.

• A detour will be in place: Northbound South Academy Boulevard traffic will travel I-25 southbound to Mesa Ridge Parkway, turn east to US 85/87, travel north and re-enter northbound South Academy Boulevard.

There will be temporary full closures of east- and westbound Willshire Drive near the pedestrian bridge on Monday, Oct. 21 through Friday, Oct. 25, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to allow crews to install a sound wall near South Academy Boulevard. A detour will be in place: Traffic will use Chadwick Drive and Chadwick Drive or Maxwell Street to enter northbound Wilshire Drive.

A shift of north- and southbound South Academy Boulevard between Milton Proby Parkway and US 85/87 towards the center is planned for Wednesday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. for a new lane alignment. Tuesday night, Oct. 22 has also been scheduled as a contingency.

A shift of east- and westbound 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) 

• Temporary full closure of northbound I-25 between South Academy Boulevard and Santa Fe Avenue, Monday, Oct. 21, 8 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. Use detour route
• Temporary full closures of southbound I-25 between Santa Fe Avenue and South Academy Boulevard, Tuesday, Oct. 22 through Thursday, Oct. 24, 8 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. Use detour route

South Academy Boulevard Widening Project

• Overnight right lane closures on northbound South Academy Boulevard between the Bradley Road on-ramp and Milton Proby Parkway on Tuesday, Oct. 22 through Wednesday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
• Temporary full closure of northbound South Academy Boulevard between I-25 and US 85/87 on Friday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. to Monday, Oct. 28, at 4:30 a.m. Use detour route
• Temporary full closures of east- and westbound Willshire Drive near the pedestrian bridge on Monday, Oct. 21 through Friday, Oct. 25, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Use detour routes
• A shift of north- and southbound South Academy Boulevard between Milton Proby Parkway and US 85/87 towards the center on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. (Tuesday, Oct. 22 contingency night)
• Ongoing shift of east- and westbound South Academy Boulevard between I-25 and Fountain Creek to middle until spring 2025
• Ongoing full closure of existing north- and southbound South Academy Boulevard on-ramps 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 (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!