Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program Updates for Week of September 29, 2024

Travel Advisory

September 27, 2024 - Nighttime southbound Interstate 25 temporary closures at South Academy Boulevard for traffic switch to final lane alignment

Colorado Springs —­­­­ The Colorado Department of Transportation will temporarily close southbound Interstate 25 at South Academy Boulevard several nights during the week of Sept. 29 as part of a traffic switch to the final lane alignment for the MAMSIP project as improvements are completed. Crews will remove barriers, install signage, and complete drainage installation along southbound I-25 during nighttime hours on Tuesday, Oct. 1 through Friday, Oct. 4. These closures are necessary for the safety of the traveling public and work crews.

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

  • Tuesday, Oct. 1, 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).
Detour map of closure of southbound I-25 between South Academy and Santa Fe Avenue on Oct. 1, 2024
Detour map of closure of southbound I-25 between South Academy and Santa Fe Avenue

Temporary full closures of southbound I-25 between South Academy Boulevard and Mesa Ridge Parkway:

  • Wednesday, Oct. 2 and Thursday, Oct. 3, 8 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
  • Friday, Oct. 4, 8 p.m. to 9 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 Mesa Ridge Parkway, turn west and re-enter I-25 (MP 132).
Detour map for full closures of southbound I-25 between South Academy Boulevard and Mesa Ridge Parkway on Oct. 2
Detour map for full closures of southbound I-25 between South Academy Boulevard and Mesa Ridge Parkway

Other nighttime work along I-25 includes:

Re-route traffic on northbound I-25 using South Academy Boulevard ramps for traffic switch

  • Monday, Sept. 30, 8 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
  • A detour will be in place: Northbound I-25 traffic will take the exit 135 off-ramp and re-enter the on-ramp to continue.
Detour map to re-route traffic on northbound I-25 using South Academy Boulevard ramps on Sept. 30, 2024
Detour map to re-route traffic on northbound I-25 using South Academy Boulevard ramps on Sept. 30, 2024

Temporary nighttime closures of South Academy Boulevard lanes under I-25 are planned for Monday through Friday next week to allow crews to install electrical conduit and lighting under the I-25 bridge deck.

Full closure of eastbound South Academy Boulevard at I-25

  • Monday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
  • A detour 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

Full closure of westbound South Academy Boulevard at I-25

  • Monday, Sept. 30 through Thursday, Oct. 3, 6 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
  • Friday, Oct. 4, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
  • A detour will be in place: 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
Detour map for closure of eastbound and westbound South Academy Boulevard on Sept. 30. 2024
Detour map for closure of eastbound and westbound South Academy Boulevard on Sept. 30. 2024

Southbound I-25 left lane closure between South Academy Boulevard and Mesa Ridge Parkway on Monday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. for removing temporary safety barriers.

Southbound I-25 right lane closure at Santa Fe Avenue on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 1 to 3 p.m. for pouring concrete sign footers.

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 — A northbound South Academy Boulevard closure between I-25 and U.S. 85 is planned for Sunday, September 29 at 12 a.m. to Monday, September 30 at 4:30 a.m. and Friday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. to Monday, Oct. 7 at 4:30 a.m. for Fountain Creek Bridge Work.

  • A detour will be in place: Northbound South Academy Boulevard traffic will travel I-25 southbound to Mesa Ridge, eastbound to U.S. 85/87, northbound to enter South Academy Boulevard.
Detour map of northbound South Academy Boulevard closure between I-25 and US 85 on Sept. 29 and 30, 2024
Detour map of northbound South Academy Boulevard closure between I-25 and US 85 on Sept. 29 and 30, 2024

There will be alternating turn lane closures from the northbound I-25 off-ramp turning onto westbound South Academy Boulevard on Monday, Sept. 30 and Tuesday, Oct. 1, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for drainage work.

There will be a temporary full closure of the on-ramp from Coventry Drive to westbound South Academy Boulevard starting Monday, Sept. 30 at 7 a.m. for drainage work across the roadway. This closure will be in place for approximately two weeks.

  • A detour will be 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.
Detour map of full closure of the on-ramp from Coventry Drive to westbound South Academy Boulevard on Oct. 1, 2024
Detour map of full closure of the on-ramp from Coventry Drive to westbound South Academy Boulevard on Oct. 1, 2024

Overnight alternating lane closures on northbound South Academy Boulevard between Fountain Creek and Bradley Road are planned for Tuesday, Oct 1 through Thursday, Oct. 3, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. to allow crews to perform bridge deck repairs.

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 U.S. 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 at MP 135. Re-route traffic on northbound I-25 using South Academy Boulevard ramps.
    • Monday, Sept. 30, 8 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
  • Temporary full closure of southbound I-25 between South Academy Boulevard and Santa Fe Avenue. Use detour route.
    • Tuesday, Oct. 1, 8 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
  • Temporary full closures of southbound I-25 between South Academy Boulevard and Mesa Ridge Parkway. Use detour route.
    • Wednesday, Oct. 2 and Thursday, Oct. 3, 8 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
    • Friday, Oct. 4, 8 p.m. to 9 a.m.
  • Temporary full Closure of Northbound I-25 at MP 135. Re-route traffic on northbound I-25 using South Academy Boulevard ramps.
    • Monday, Sept. 30, 8 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
  • Southbound I-25 left lane closure between South Academy Boulevard and Mesa Ridge Parkway
    • Monday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
  • Southbound I-25 right lane closure at Santa Fe Avenue
    • Tuesday, Oct. 1, 1 to 3 p.m.
  • Full closure of eastbound South Academy Boulevard at I-25. Use detour route.
    • Monday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
  • Full closure of westbound South Academy Boulevard at I-25. Use detour route.
    • Monday, Sept. 30 through Thursday, Oct. 3, 6 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
    • Friday, Oct. 4, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

South Academy Boulevard Widening Project

  • A northbound South Academy Boulevard closure between I-25 and U.S. 85/87 is planned for Sunday, September 29 at 12 a.m. to Monday, September 30 at 4:30 a.m. and Friday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. to Monday, Oct. 7 at 4:30 a.m. for Fountain Creek Bridge Work. Use detour route.
  • Temporary full closure of westbound South Academy Boulevard on-ramp from Coventry Drive starting Monday, Sept. 30 at 7 a.m. in place for approximately two weeks. Use detour route.
  • Overnight alternating lane closures on northbound South Academy Boulevard between Fountain Creek and Bradley Road on Tuesday, Oct 1 through Thursday, Oct. 3, 7 p.m. to 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 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

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!

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