Overnight roadwork and traffic adjustments are planned on South Academy Boulevard in Colorado Springs as part of the ongoing Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program. The Colorado Springs Police Department will conduct mobile traffic pacing operations on both northbound and southbound lanes between Venetucci Boulevard and Milton Proby Parkway overnight on Sunday, October 19 and Monday, October 20, from 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m., to facilitate testing and inspection of new asphalt pavement. Intermittent ramp closures at various interchanges are also scheduled during these hours.
A right shoulder closure will occur on the southbound South Academy Boulevard on-ramp from Coventry Drive to I-25 on Monday night for electrical work near the roadway. Lane reductions on southbound South Academy Boulevard between I-25 and Coventry Drive continue for traffic signal and island installations, with this alignment expected to remain through October 27.
Additional closures include a left lane closure on southbound South Academy Boulevard under I-25, though two through lanes will stay open. The northbound South Academy Boulevard left turn lane to the northbound I-25 on-ramp will be closed west of the southbound I-25 on-ramps.
Motorists are advised to expect delays, especially during peak hours, and are encouraged to allow extra travel time, maintain safe following distances, and merge early when approaching work zones. Those accessing I-25 southbound should move to the center lane well in advance.
There is an ongoing shift of east- and westbound South Academy Boulevard between I-25 and Fountain Creek toward the center, which allows construction crews to work on the outside lanes. This configuration is expected to continue until November 2025. Drivers should also be cautious as lanes are narrowed across the northbound bridge over US 85/87 for continued bridge work. All scheduled closures depend on weather conditions and may change.
The improvements on South Academy Boulevard cover a 1.5-mile section from the I-25 interchange across US Highway 85/87 to just before Milton Proby Parkway. The project aims to widen this segment from two lanes to three in each direction, addressing recurring congestion. Other upgrades include improved drainage, lighting, striping, expanded shoulders, modified merge lanes, sound walls, and bridgework. El Paso County manages the project, which is expected to finish by early 2026.
A safety assessment conducted by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) identified several infrastructure deficiencies in this corridor that contribute to traffic crashes. The current transportation improvements are designed to reduce crashes and improve overall road safety for drivers in the area over the next two decades.
The Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program covers improvements along I-25, Colorado Highway 94, South Academy Boulevard, and Charter Oak Ranch Road. CDOT leads this program with partial funding from an $18 million BUILD grant awarded by the US Department of Transportation. The goal is to enhance mobility and safety while supporting economic stability and development for military installations in El Paso County—including Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, and Schriever Space Force Base. More information can be found at codot.gov/projects/militaryaccesssafetyimprovements.
“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.”
The program aims to deliver safer mobility for both civilian and military communities while ensuring more reliable connections among key installations in Colorado Springs.
