Traffic Advisory – Week of January 1. Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Project
El Paso County, Colorado, January 02, 2023 – There will be overnight alternating left and right lane closures on north- and southbound South Academy Boulevard between Milton E. Proby Parkway and Fountain Creek on Wednesday, Jan. 3 through Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m., for barrier setup and lane striping in preparation for a traffic switch which will move traffic to the outside lanes.
A detour is in place for westbound travel on South Academy Boulevard between US 85 and I-25 over Fountain Creek. Two eastbound lanes on South Academy Boulevard are open, along with a single westbound lane using the eastbound South Academy bridge over Fountain Creek. Speeds across the detour cross over lanes and across the bridge will be reduced to 35 MPH.
Bridge lanes will be 11 feet wide with a 2-foot shoulder. Oversize loads will not be allowed on the bridge during this closure. The closure of the westbound South Academy Boulevard bridge is ongoing for scour bridge investigation and countermeasures.
A left lane closure is ongoing for northbound and southbound South Academy Boulevard over Bradley Road to allow crews to perform bridge work. This left lane closure will be in place for approximately three months.
There will also be an ongoing auxiliary lane closure on northbound South Academy Boulevard between Hartford Street and Fountain Creek through mid-December for drainage line work.
These closures are weather dependent and subject to change.
Traffic Impacts
South Academy Boulevard Widening Project
- Wednesday, Jan. 3 through Friday, Jan. 5, 7 p.m. – 4:30 a.m. alternating left and right lane closures on north- and southbound South Academy Boulevard between Milton E. Proby Parkway and Fountain Creek
- Ongoing full closure of westbound South Academy Boulevard over Fountain Creek – detour in place
- Ongoing northbound and southbound left lane closure at South Academy Boulevard over Bradley Road, in place for approximately five months
- Ongoing northbound auxiliary lane closure on South Academy Boulevard between Hartford Street and Fountain Creek. This auxiliary lane will be closed through mid-December
- Ongoing shift of all lanes on Bradley Road to center of roadway under South Academy Boulevard bridge
- Ongoing closure of the Fountain Creek Regional Trail under South Academy Boulevard
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 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