Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program Updates for Week of June 29, 2025

El Paso County – MAMSIP – South Academy Boulevard Widening Project

Colorado Springs — There will be an overnight temporary full closure of southbound South Academy Boulevard between US Highway 85/87 and Coventry Drive on Tuesday, July 1, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. Crews will place new lane striping in preparation for re-opening the second and third lane on the Fountain Creek bridge. Detours will be in place:

• Southbound South Academy Boulevard traffic will exit onto US 85/87, travel northwest to B Street, travel south to Magrath Avenue, turn east and enter South Academy Boulevard
• US 85/87 traffic intending to enter southbound South Academy Boulevard will travel south to Mesa Ridge Parkway, turn west to enter northbound I-25, travel north to exit 135 and turn west onto South Academy Boulevard

  

Afterward, the shift and lane reduction of southbound South Academy Boulevard between US 85/87 and Coventry Drive for rehabilitation work on the Fountain Creek bridge deck and curbs is scheduled to end on July 2 at 4:30 a.m. and all lanes will be open to traffic.

A set of contingency temporary full closures and ramp closures has been scheduled overnight on Monday, June 30 if needed to complete road paving operations in the project corridor. Detours will be in place.

• A temporary full closure of southbound South Academy Boulevard under I-25 has been scheduled if needed on Monday, June 30, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
  Southbound South Academy Boulevard traffic will travel north on I-25 to South Circle Drive (exit 138), loop around and travel south on I-25 to exit 135 to re-enter South Academy Boulevard
  • Northbound I-25 traffic intending to exit to westbound South Academy Boulevard will continue north to South Circle Drive (exit 138), loop around and travel south on I-25 to exit 135 to re-enter South Academy Boulevard
  • Southbound I-25 traffic intending to exit onto northbound South Academy Boulevard will travel west to B Street and turn south, continue on Magrath Avenue and turn east to enter northbound South Academy Boulevard
    

    

• Intermittent closures of two ramps at South Academy Boulevard and I-25 are scheduled if needed on Monday, June 30, 6 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
  • Southbound I-25 off-ramp to westbound South Academy Boulevard
  • Northbound I-25 on-ramp from northbound South Academy Boulevard
  • Detours:
    • Traffic intending to enter northbound I-25 from northbound South Academy Boulevard will travel east to US 85/87, exit and loop around, and travel west to enter I-25 North
    • Traffic exiting southbound I-25 to westbound South Academy Boulevard will continue straight 200 feet and turn hard right at the intersection

Overnight alternating lane closures on southbound South Academy Boulevard under I-25 are also scheduled if needed on Monday, June 30 through Wednesday, July 2, 6 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. for possible road paving.

Project operations will cease at noon on July 3 through Monday, July 7 in recognition of the Independence Day Holiday and weekend.

A shift of southbound South Academy Boulevard towards the outside over US 85/87 is ongoing to allow crews to continue work on the bridge. This alignment is anticipated to remain in place through July 2025.

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 construct a noise barrier. This alignment is anticipated to remain in place until August 2025.

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.

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 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 between US 85/87 and Coventry Drive on Tuesday, July 1, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. Use detour route outlined above
• Ongoing shift and lane reduction of southbound South Academy Boulevard between US 85/87 and Coventry Drive scheduled to end July 2, 4:30 a.m.
• Temporary full closure of southbound South Academy Boulevard under I-25 on Monday, June 30, 6 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. (contingency night)
• Intermittent closures of southbound I-25 off-ramp to westbound South Academy Boulevard on Monday, June 30, 6 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. (contingency night) Use detour route outlined above
• Intermittent closures of northbound I-25 on-ramp from northbound South Academy Boulevard on Monday, June 30, 6 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. (contingency night) Use detour route outlined above
• Alternating lane closures on southbound South Academy Boulevard under I-25 on Monday, June 30 through Wednesday, July 2, 6 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. (contingency nights)
• Ongoing shift of southbound South Academy Boulevard towards the outside over US 85/87 through July 2025
• Ongoing shift of east- and westbound South Academy Boulevard between I-25 and Fountain Creek until August 2025
• Ongoing shift of all lanes of Bradley Road to the north under South Academy Boulevard bridge
• Ongoing full closure of existing north- and southbound South Academy Boulevard on-ramps from US 85/87 and shift to temporary on-ramp

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.

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!