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

July 26, 2024- A temporary closure of the on-ramp from Hartford Street to northbound South Academy Boulevard is ongoing and will last approximately four weeks. This closure is necessary to allow crews to install drainage pipes across the road and reconstruct the Hartford ramp. Full closures decrease the duration of traffic impacts and increase safety for the traveling public and crews.

A detour will be in place:

  • Traffic intending to enter northbound South Academy Boulevard will continue north to Welton Drive, travel east to Maxwell Street and turn north to E. Las Vegas Street (CanAm Hwy.), and travel southeast to enter South Academy.

There will be a flagged one-way road on Bradley Road for bridge deck work Monday, July 29 and Tuesday July 30, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

There will be a right lane closure on southbound South Academy Boulevard from Milton Proby to Bradley Road to allow crews to remove existing lighting on Monday, July 29, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.

There will be alternating lane closures and mobile lane closures on northbound South Academy Boulevard between Bradley Road and Milton Proby Parkway on Thursday, August 1, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. to allow crews to apply lane striping and reset barriers for a traffic switch towards the inside lanes. This new alignment will be in place for approximately five months to allow crews to perform drainage and median work. In case of weather impacts, a contingency night is scheduled for Friday, August 2, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.

A diversion of Coventry Drive traffic intending to travel west on South Academy is ongoing: westbound traffic will enter northbound I-25, travel to South Circle Drive (Mile Point 138), turn around and continue south to exit 135 to continue westbound South Academy. This detour will be in place for approximately one month.

A shift of eastbound 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 US 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 US 85/Fountain (MP 127) and South Academy Boulevard (MP 135)

  • Southbound I-25 off-ramp closures at Exit 132A and 132B, Monday, July 29, 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Use detour route.
  • Northbound I-25 on- and off-ramp closures at MP 132, Tuesday, July 30, 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Use detour routes.
  • Southbound I-25 alternating lane closures at Santa Fe Avenue (MP 131 to 129), Monday, July 29 and Tuesday, July 30, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
  • Northbound I-25 alternating lane closures at Santa Fe Avenue (MP 131 to 129), Tuesday, July 30, 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
  • I-25 alternating lane closures at Santa Fe Avenue, Wednesday, July 31
    • Northbound I-25, 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
    • Southbound I-25, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
  • I-25 alternating lane closures between South Academy Boulevard and Mesa Ridge Parkway, Thursday, August 1
    • Northbound I-25, 6 p.m. to 5 a.m.
    • Southbound I-25, 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
  • I-25 alternating lane closures between Santa Fe Avenue and Mile Point 133, Friday, August 2 (contingency)
    • Northbound I-25, 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
    • Southbound I-25, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

South Academy Boulevard Widening Project

  • Flagged one-way road on Bradley Road for bridge deck work Monday, July 29 and Tuesday July 30, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Alternating lane closures and mobile lane closures on northbound South Academy Boulevard between Bradley Road and Milton Proby Parkway, Thursday, August 1, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
  • Alternating lane closures and mobile lane closures on northbound South Academy Boulevard between Bradley Road and Milton Proby Parkway, Friday, August 2, 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. (contingency)
  • Ongoing shift of eastbound South Academy Boulevard between I-25 and Fountain Creek to middle until Spring 2025
  • Ongoing temporary full closure of Hartford Street on-ramp to northbound South Academy Boulevard. Use detour route.
  • Ongoing shift of westbound South Academy Boulevard lanes between I-25 and Fountain Creek to middle until Spring 2025
  • Ongoing Southbound Coventry Drive detour to westbound South Academy (in place for approximately one month)
  • Full closure of existing southbound South Academy Boulevard on-ramp from US 85/87 and shift to temporary on-ramp, in place until Fall 2024
  • Ongoing full closure of existing northbound South Academy Boulevard on-ramp from US 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

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