Overnight lane reductions are planned for South Academy Boulevard in Colorado Springs as part of the Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Project. According to project managers, northbound and southbound traffic will be reduced to one through lane each between Fountain Creek and Bradley Road on Wednesday, December 17, from 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m., while crews apply sealant to bridge expansion joints. A contingency night is scheduled for Thursday, December 18, if weather impacts the original schedule.
Additional daytime lane closures are set between Venetucci Boulevard and Milton Proby Parkway from Monday, December 15 through Friday, December 19, between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. These closures will allow installation of signage and completion of remaining roadway, traffic signal, and lighting work. Two lanes of traffic will remain open in both directions during these periods. Drivers are advised to follow posted speed limits and stay alert in the work zone.
The South Academy Boulevard Widening Project focuses on expanding approximately 1.5 miles of the arterial road from two lanes to three in each direction near the I-25 interchange up to Milton E. Proby Parkway. The project includes upgrades such as improved drainage facilities, lighting enhancements, expanded shoulders, modified merge lanes, sound walls, and bridgework improvements. El Paso County manages the project with an expected completion date in early 2026.
A safety assessment by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) identified recurring congestion and crash causes along this corridor. The planned improvements aim to reduce crashes and improve overall infrastructure deficiencies over the next two decades.
“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,” according to CDOT.
The Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program receives partial funding from an $18 million BUILD grant awarded by the US Department of Transportation. The initiative targets more efficient mobility along key corridors including I-25 and Colorado Highway 94 as well as Charter Oak Ranch Road.
Further information about this project can be found at codot.gov/projects/militaryaccesssafetyimprovements or by contacting [email protected] or calling 719-800-2162.
