A image of an read cross light with text that reads road work alert. News release

El Paso County, Colorado, November 17, 2023 —­­ The Colorado Department of Transportation has scheduled a southbound I-25 right lane closure between South Academy Boulevard and Mesa Ridge Parkway overnight on Monday, November 20 and Tuesday, November 21 beginning at 7 p.m. The closure will allow crews to install drainage outlet structures along the shoulder. All lanes will reopen at 6 a.m.

CDOT is suspending any work impacting traffic (lane closures, etc.) from midday Wednesday, Nov. 22 until Monday, Nov. 27 for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

In early December, a nighttime northbound I-25 traffic switch will require I-25 to be closed at the US 85/87 interchange (mile 128). The northbound off-ramp to South Academy Boulevard will also be closed. Northbound I-25 traffic will shift to the east on permanent concrete pavement, into final alignment. Traffic exiting at US 85/87 will continue to South Academy Boulevard to enter back onto I-25.

· Northbound off-ramp to South Academy Boulevard motorists will continue to Circle Drive and return southbound to access South Academy Boulevard.

El Paso County – MAMSIP – South Academy Boulevard Widening Project

Bradley Road under the South Academy Boulevard bridge will be closed Friday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. and reopen Saturday, Dec. 2 at 5 p.m. to allow crews to relocate utilities and place drainage pipes.

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 five 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.

All lanes of Bradley Road under South Academy Boulevard will be shifted to the south side of the roadway ongoing to allow crews to perform drilling for new caisson construction.

These closures are weather dependent and subject to change.

Traffic Impacts

Night work on I-25 between US 85/Fountain (mile 127) and South Academy Boulevard (mile 135)

· Southbound I-25 right lane closure between mile points 135 – 132

· Monday, Nov. 20, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

· Tuesday, Nov. 21, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

South Academy Boulevard Widening Project

· 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 north side (Sunday and Monday) and south side (Tuesday and ongoing) of roadway under South Academy Boulevard bridge

· Ongoing closure of the Fountain Creek Regional Trail under South Academy Boulevard

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 Colorado Highway 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 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