September 16, 2024 – A temporary closure of the South Academy Boulevard off-ramp to southbound Hartford Street is ongoing and will tentatively end in late September. This closure is necessary to allow crews to install drainage pipes across the road and reconstruct the Hartford on and off ramps. Full closures decrease the duration of traffic impacts and increase safety for the traveling public and crews. A detour will be in place:
- Eastbound South Academy Boulevard exiting to Hartford Street will continue east to U.S. 85/87, turn around and travel west to Coventry Drive, travel north to Welton Drive, turn west and travel to southbound Hartford Street.
Overnight northbound I-25 off-ramp closures to northbound South Academy Boulevard are planned for Sunday, Sept. 15 through Tuesday, Sept. 17, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. to allow crews to install drainage pipes across the roadway. A contingency night on Wednesday, Sept. 18 is scheduled, if needed. A detour will be in place:
- Northbound I-25 traffic exiting to northbound South Academy Boulevard will travel west to Venetucci Boulevard, continue north to B Street, travel east and turn onto the CanAm Highway (U.S. 85/87), travel southeast and enter South Academy Boulevard.
Overnight alternating lane closures on northbound South Academy Boulevard between Fountain Creek and Bradley Road are planned for Monday, Sept. 16 through Thursday, Sept. 19, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. to allow crews to perform bridge deck repairs.
Northbound South Academy Boulevard between U.S. 85/87 and Bradley Road will be temporarily closed overnight on Friday, Sept. 20 and Saturday, Sept. 21, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. to allow crews to perform bridge deck repairs. A detour will be in place:
- Northbound traffic will exit to U.S. 85/87, travel south to Fontaine Boulevard, travel east to Grinnell Boulevard, travel north to Bradley Road, and travel west to re-enter northbound South Academy Boulevard.
A northbound South Academy Boulevard lane shift between Milton Proby Parkway and Fountain Creek to the outside is ongoing to allow crews to perform drainage and median work. The new alignment will be in place until late September.
A diversion of Coventry Drive traffic intending to travel west on South Academy is scheduled to end on Wednesday, Sept. 18. In preparation, there will be an overnight southbound South Academy Boulevard right lane closure west of Fountain Creek on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. for paving and moving of barriers.
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 prepare to construct a noise barrier. This alignment will be in place approximately until spring 2025.
Motorists are also advised that the shift of the northbound I-25 off-ramp to northbound South Academy Boulevard to a new alignment is ongoing and will have a short acceleration lane.
Motorists are advised to use caution at all entrance ramps as merge lengths have been shortened. In particular, motorists should be prepared to stop on the U.S. 85/87 on-ramp to eastbound South Academy and the Bradley Road on-ramp to eastbound South Academy since merge area is greatly reduced.
All lanes of Bradley Road under South Academy Boulevard are shifted to the center of the roadway ongoing to allow crews to perform work on new bridge piers.
These closures are weather dependent and subject to change.
Traffic Impacts
I-25 between U.S. 85/Fountain (MP 127) and South Academy Boulevard (MP 135)
- Re-route traffic on northbound I-25 using South Academy Boulevard ramps for traffic switch and other work. Use detour route.
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- Friday, Sept. 20, 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Full closure of eastbound South Academy Boulevard at I-25. Use detour route.
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- Monday, Sept. 16 through Wednesday Sept. 18, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Friday, Sept. 20, 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Full closure of westbound South Academy Boulevard at I-25. Use detour route.
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- Monday, Sept. 16 through Wednesday Sept. 18, 6 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
- Friday, Sept. 20, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Northbound I-25 right lane closures at South Academy Boulevard, Monday, Sept. 16 and Tuesday, Sept. 17, 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
- Northbound I-25 left lane closures at South Academy Boulevard, Wednesday, Sept. 18 and Thursday, Sept. 19, 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
South Academy Boulevard Widening Project
- Ongoing temporary full closure of South Academy Boulevard off-ramp to southbound Hartford Street in place until late September. Use detour route.
- Overnight northbound I-25 off-ramp closures to northbound South Academy Boulevard on Sunday, Sept. 15 through Tuesday, Sept. 17, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. Use detour route. Contingency night Wednesday, Sept. 18 if needed.
- Overnight alternating lane closures on northbound of South Academy Boulevard between Fountain Creek and Bradley Road on Monday, Sept. 16 through Thursday, Sept. 19, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
- Full closure of northbound South Academy Boulevard between U.S. 85/87 and Bradley Road on Friday, Sept. 20 and Saturday, Sept. 21, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. Use detour route.
- Ongoing shift of northbound South Academy Boulevard between Milton Proby Parkway and Fountain Creek in place until late September.
- Ongoing shift of east- and westbound South Academy Boulevard between I-25 and Fountain Creek to middle until spring 2025
- Southbound South Academy Boulevard right lane closure west of Fountain Creek on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
- Ongoing Southbound Coventry Drive detour to westbound South Academy in place for until Sept. 18.
- Ongoing full closure of existing north- and southbound South Academy Boulevard on-ramps from U.S. 85/87 and shift to temporary on-ramp, in place until fall 2024
- Ongoing shift of all lanes on Bradley Road under South Academy Boulevard bridge
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