October 11, 2024 – There will be temporary full closures of east- and westbound Willshire Drive near the pedestrian bridge on Monday, Oct. 14 through Friday, Oct. 18, 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.
Overnight alternating lane closures on northbound South Academy Boulevard between Fountain Creek and Bradley Road are planned on Tuesday, Oct. 15 through Thursday, Oct. 17, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. to allow crews to perform Fountain Creek bridge deck repairs.
A temporary full closure of northbound South Academy Boulevard between I-25 and US 85/87 is planned for Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. to Monday, Oct. 21 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.
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.
South Academy Boulevard Widening Project
- Overnight alternating lane closures on northbound South Academy Boulevard between Fountain Creek and Bradley Road on Tuesday, Oct. 15 through Thursday, Oct. 17, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
- Temporary full closures of east- and westbound Willshire Drive near the pedestrian bridge on Monday, Oct. 14 through Friday, Oct. 18, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Use detour routes.
- Temporary full closure of northbound South Academy Boulevard between I-25 and U.S. 85/87 is planned for Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. to Monday, Oct. 21 at 4:30 a.m. Use detour routes.
- Ongoing shift of east- and westbound South Academy Boulevard between I-25 and Fountain Creek to middle until spring 2025.
- Southbound South Academy Boulevard right lane closure west of Fountain Creek on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
- 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.
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 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 twenty years, the project is estimated to result in fewer deaths, injuries, and crashes on the four MAMSIP corridors.
Project Contact Information
Website: https://www.codot.gov/projects/militaryaccesssafetyimprovements
Email: I25CO94.mamsip@gmail.com
Hotline: 719-800-2162
Register for Alerts: Text MAMSIP to 888-970-9665