Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program Updates for Week of October 6, 2024

Travel Advisory

October 6, 2024 - Nighttime northbound Interstate 25 temporary closure at South Academy Boulevard for punchlist of final work

Colorado Springs —­­­­ The Colorado Department of Transportation will temporarily close northbound Interstate 25 at Santa Fe Avenue on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 8 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. to move closer to substantial completion of the MAMSIP I-25 Safety and Efficiency Improvements Component. Crews will inspect the 7.5-mile segment to create a punchlist of final touch-up work to be completed along I-25. This closure is necessary for the safety of the traveling public and work crews.

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

  • Tuesday, Oct. 8, 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)
Detour map of closure of northbound I-25 between Santa Fe Avenue and South Academy Boulevard
Detour map of closure of northbound I-25 between Santa Fe Avenue and South Academy Boulevard

Other nighttime work along I-25 includes:

I-25 right lane closures between Mesa Ridge Parkway and South Academy Boulevard for installation of final pavement markings and to install rumble strips.

  • Northbound I-25 right lane closure between South Academy Boulevard and Mesa Ridge Parkway, Monday, Oct. 7 and Wednesday, Oct. 9, 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
  • Southbound I-25 nightly right lane closure between South Academy Boulevard and Mesa Ridge Parkway, Monday, Oct. 7 through Wednesday, Oct. 8, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
  • 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 is an ongoing full closure of the on-ramp from Coventry Drive to westbound South Academy Boulevard for drainage work across the roadway scheduled to end on Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. A detour is in place:

  • Traffic using Coventry Drive to enter westbound South Academy Boulevard will travel north on Maxwell Street, turn east onto the CanAm Highway, and continue southeast to enter South Academy Boulevard.

Overnight alternating lane closures on northbound South Academy Boulevard between Fountain Creek and Bradley Road are planned to allow crews to perform bridge deck repairs.

  • Tuesday, Oct. 8 through Thursday, Oct. 10, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
  • Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. to Saturday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m.

There will be an overnight temporary full closure of southbound South Academy Boulevard over Bradley Road on Thursday, Oct. 10, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. to perform pavement milling on the bridge deck. A detour will be in place:

  • Southbound South Academy Boulevard traffic will exit onto Bradley Road, travel east to Main Street, travel south to US 85/87, and travel north to re-enter South Academy Boulevard.
Map of detour for full closure of southbound South Academy Boulevard over Bradley Road
Map of detour for full closure of southbound South Academy Boulevard over Bradley Road

There will be a temporary full closure of the northbound I-25 off-ramp left turn lanes to westbound South Academy Boulevard tentatively planned for Saturday, Oct. 12 at 6 a.m. to Saturday, Oct. 12 at 6 p.m. for drainage pipe installation across the off ramp. A detour will be in place:

  • Traffic exiting to westbound South Academy Boulevard will enter eastbound South Academy, travel east to US 85/87 and turn around to enter westbound South Academy.
Detour map of full closure of the northbound I-25 off-ramp left turn lanes to westbound South Academy Boulevard
Detour map of full closure of the northbound I-25 off-ramp left turn lanes to westbound South Academy Boulevard

A temporary full closure of northbound South Academy Boulevard between I-25 and US 85/87 is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. to Monday, Oct. 13 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.
Detour map of full closure of northbound South Academy Boulevard between I-25 and US 85/87
Detour map of full closure of northbound South Academy Boulevard between I-25 and US 85/87



A northbound South Academy Boulevard lane shift between Milton Proby Parkway and Fountain Creek to the outside is ongoing to allow crews to perform drainage and median work. The new alignment will be in place until late September.

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 Santa Fe Avenue and South Academy Boulevard. Use detour route
    • Tuesday, Oct. 8, 8 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
  • Northbound I-25 right lane closure at South Academy Boulevard, Monday, Oct. 7 and Wednesday, Oct. 9, 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
  • Southbound I-25 nightly right lane closure between South Academy Boulevard and Mesa Ridge Parkway, Monday, Oct. 7 through Wednesday, Oct. 8, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

South Academy Boulevard Widening Project

  • Ongoing full closure of westbound South Academy Boulevard on-ramp from Coventry Drive scheduled to end on Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. Use detour route
  • Overnight alternating lane closures on northbound South Academy Boulevard between Fountain Creek and Bradley Road
    • Tuesday, Oct. 8 through Thursday, Oct. 10, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
    • Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. to Saturday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m.
  • Temporary full closure of southbound South Academy Boulevard over Bradley Road on Thursday, Oct. 10, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. Use detour route.
  • Temporary full closure of the northbound I-25 off-ramp left turn lanes to westbound South Academy Boulevard tentatively planned for Saturday, Oct. 12 at 6 a.m. to Saturday, Oct. 12 at 6 p.m. Use detour route
  • Temporary full closure of northbound South Academy Boulevard between I-25 and US 85/87 is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. to Monday, Oct. 13 at 4:30 a.m.
  • Ongoing shift of northbound South Academy Boulevard between Milton Proby Parkway and Fountain Creek in place until late September
  • 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

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!

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