Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program Updates for Week of Feb. 16, 2025

El Paso County – MAMSIP – South Academy Boulevard Widening Project

Colorado Springs — There will be a temporary full closure of southbound South Academy Boulevard between Bradley Road and US Highway 85/87 on Saturday, Feb. 22, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., for welding operations on new bridge structures. 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 Highway 85/87, and travel north to re-enter South Academy Boulevard

There will be temporary closures of Maxwell Street at its southern limit north of South Academy Boulevard (near the pedestrian bridge) on Friday, Feb. 21 and Monday, Feb. 24, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to allow crews to perform electrical utility work. Motorists should use northbound Maxwell Street, Chadwick Drive or Wilshire Drive as detours.

The southbound South Academy Boulevard off-ramp to Coventry Drive will be temporarily closed on Monday, Feb. 17, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to allow crews to install new soundwall panels near the roadway. A detour will be in place:

• Traffic intending to enter Coventry Drive from southbound South Academy Boulevard will continue east to Venetucci Boulevard, travel north to B Street and turn east onto East Las Vegas Street (CanAm Highway), turn south onto Maxwell Street and turn onto Coventry Drive.

All lanes of Bradley Road under South Academy Boulevard are shifted to the south to allow crews to continue work on slope paving for the bridge.

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 August 2025.

Motorists should use caution as lanes will be narrowed across the southbound bridge over US 85 Highway so crews can continue bridge work.

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.

These closures are weather dependent and subject to change.

Traffic Impacts

South Academy Boulevard Widening Project

• The southbound South Academy Boulevard off-ramp to Coventry Drive will be temporarily closed on Monday, Feb. 17, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Use detour route
• Temporary full closure of southbound South Academy Boulevard between Bradley Road and US Highway 85/87, Saturday, Feb. 22, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Use detour routes
• Temporary closures of Maxwell Street at its southern limit north of South Academy Boulevard (near the pedestrian bridge), Friday, Feb. 21 and Monday, Feb. 24, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Ongoing shift of all lanes of Bradley Road to the south under South Academy Boulevard bridge
• Ongoing shift of east- and westbound South Academy Boulevard between I-25 and Fountain Creek to middle until August 2025
• Ongoing full closure of existing north- and southbound South Academy Boulevard on-ramps from US 85/87 and shift to temporary on-ramp

I-25 closing temporarily between US 85/Fountain (Mile Post 127) and South Academy Boulevard (MP 135) for road inspection rescheduled:

Due to weather impacts, temporary I-25 closures have been rescheduled. The southbound I-25 full closure between MP 127 to 135 is now planned for the night of Thursday, Feb. 27, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. and the northbound I-25 full closure is planned for the night of Tuesday, March 4, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., to inspect concrete panels and damaged guardrail and cable rail.

Project Overview

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, soundwalls and bridgework. The project is expected to be complete by early 2026. This project is managed by El Paso County.

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 Highway 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 Colorado Highway 16

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!