February 28, 2025 – There will be a temporary full closure of southbound South Academy Boulevard at Bradley Road on Saturday, March 1 and Sunday, March 2, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. for welding operations on the bridge structures over US Highway 85/87. 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.
The southbound South Academy Boulevard off-ramp to Coventry Drive will be temporarily closed on Monday, March 3, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to allow crews to perform soundwall work 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 Hwy.), turn south onto Maxwell Street and turn onto Coventry Drive.
There will be temporary full closures of northbound South Academy Boulevard at US Highway 85/87 on Tuesday, March 4 through Thursday, March 6, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. for welding operations on the bridge structures over US Highway 85/87. A detour will be in place:
- Northbound South Academy Boulevard traffic will exit onto US Highway 85/87, travel south to Main Street, travel north to Bradley Road, and travel north to re-enter South Academy Boulevard.
The southbound US Highway 85/87 auxiliary lane at South Academy Boulevard will be closed on Wednesday, March 5, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for crews to prepare for bridge jacking operations.
There will be a temporary full closure of southbound South Academy Boulevard at Bradley Road starting Friday, March 7 at 7 p.m. to Monday, March 10 at 4:30 a.m. for bridge jacking operations over US Highway 85/87. 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.
All lanes of Bradley Road under South Academy Boulevard are shifted to the north to allow crews to continue work on slope paving for the bridge.
A shift of east- and westbound South Academy Boulevard between Interstate 25 and Fountain Creek towards the center is ongoing to allow crews to work on the outside lanes, install drainage pipes and construct a noise barrier. This alignment is anticipated to remain in place until August 2025.
Motorists should use caution as lanes will be narrowed across the southbound bridge over US Highway 85 so crews can continue bridge work.
Motorists are advised that the shift of the northbound I-25 off-ramp to northbound South Academy Boulevard to a new alignment is ongoing and has a short acceleration lane.
Motorists are advised to use caution at all entrance ramps as merge lengths have been shortened. There is a new on-ramp from US Highway 85/87 onto South Academy Boulevard.
These closures are weather dependent and subject to change.
Traffic Impacts
South Academy Boulevard Widening Project
- Temporary full closure of southbound South Academy Boulevard at Bradley Road, Saturday, March 1 and Sunday, March 2, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Use detour route.
- Southbound South Academy Boulevard off-ramp closure to Coventry Drive, Monday, March 3, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Use detour route.
- Temporary full closures of northbound South Academy Boulevard at US Highway 85/87 on Tuesday, March 4 through Thursday, March 6, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. Use detour routes.
- Southbound US Highway 85/87 auxiliary lane closure at South Academy Boulevard, Wednesday, March 5, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Temporary full closure of southbound South Academy Boulevard at Bradley Road starting Friday, March 7 at 7 p.m. to Monday, March 10 at 4:30 a.m. Use detour routes.
- Ongoing shift of all lanes of Bradley Road to the north under South Academy Boulevard bridge.
- 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.
I-25 temporary closures between US Highway 85/Fountain (Mile Point 127) and South Academy Boulevard (MP 135) for road inspection
Northbound I-25 temporary full closure between MP 127 and 135 on Tuesday, March 4, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., to inspect concrete panels and damaged guardrail and cable rail. Use detour routes.
Northbound I-25 traffic will exit at Santa Fe Avenue, turn north onto the CanAm Highway (US 85/87), travel to South Academy Blvd., turn west and re-enter I-25. The northbound on-ramp to I-25 from Mesa Ridge Parkway/CO 16 will also be closed
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, sound walls 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 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