Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program Updates for Week of May 4, 2025

El Paso County – MAMSIP – South Academy Boulevard Widening Project

Colorado Springs — Due to weather and supplier impacts, the temporary full closure of southbound South Academy Boulevard between Bradley Road and US Highway 85/87 is rescheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 8 through 4:30 a.m. on Friday, May 9 to allow crews to move barriers and place striping for a lane shift to the outside over US 85/87. This will allow crews to continue the work on this bridge. 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 85/87, travel northwest and re-enter South Academy Boulevard.

There will be a temporary full closure of northbound South Academy Boulevard under I-25 planned for 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 8 through 4:30 a.m., and on Friday, May 9, from 7 p.m. on Friday, May 9 through 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 10 to allow crews to install drainage pipes across the roadway. The southbound I-25 off-ramp to northbound South Academy Boulevard will also be closed. Detours will be in place:

• Eastbound South Academy Boulevard traffic will enter southbound I-25, travel to Mesa Ridge Parkway (exit 132A), travel east and enter northbound I-25 and continue to exit 135.
• Traffic exiting southbound I-25 to turn onto eastbound South Academy Boulevard will turn west, travel to B Street and turn south onto Magrath Avenue, turn east and enter southbound I-25, travel to Mesa Ridge Parkway (exit 132A), travel east and enter northbound I-25 and continue to exit 135.

US 85/87 northbound lanes will be shifted to the south in a head-to-head configuration under the South Academy bridge overnight on Wednesday, May 7 and Thursday May 8, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. and all southbound lanes will be shifted to the north in a head-to-head configuration under the South Academy bridge overnight on Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. for bridge painting operations.

There will be brief various lane closures on north- and southbound South Academy Boulevard on Wednesday, May 7 and Thursday, May 8, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. for boring operations:

• Wednesday, May 7 on South Academy Boulevard near Bradley Road
• Thursday, May 8 on South Academy Boulevard near I-25

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.

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 should use caution as lanes will be narrowed across the southbound bridge over US Highway 85/87 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 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 Bradley Road and US 85/87 rescheduled to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 8 through 4:30 a.m. on Friday, May 9. Use detour route outlined above
• Temporary full closure of eastbound South Academy Boulevard under I-25, and southbound I-25 off-ramp to eastbound South Academy Boulevard. Use detour routes outlined above
  • 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 8 through 4:30 a.m. on Friday, May 9
  • 7 p.m. on Friday, May 9 through 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 10
• US 85/87 northbound lanes shifted to the south in a head-to-head configuration under South Academy on Wednesday, May 7 and Thursday May 8, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
• US 85/87 southbound lanes shifted to the north in a head-to-head configuration under South Academy on Friday, May 9 and Saturday May 10, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
• Brief various lane closures on north- and southbound South Academy Boulevard near Bradley Road on Wednesday, May 7, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Brief various lane closures on north- and southbound South Academy Boulevard near I-25 on Thursday, May 8, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Ongoing shift of east- and westbound South Academy Boulevard between Interstate 25 and Fountain Creek until late spring 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.

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 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!