The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has announced that planned closures of Interstate 25 between South Academy Boulevard and Santa Fe Avenue, previously scheduled for the nights of September 29 and 30, have been canceled. I-25 will remain open in both directions during these times.
Ongoing construction continues to affect traffic patterns in the area. Lane reductions are in place on southbound South Academy Boulevard between I-25 and Coventry Drive to allow for traffic signal and island installations. This configuration is expected to last through October 12. The two left turn lanes for the southbound I-25 on-ramp at Mile Post 135 have been reduced to one, but two through lanes remain available on southbound South Academy Boulevard.
Motorists should anticipate delays, especially during peak travel periods, and are advised to allow extra time, maintain safe distances, and merge early when approaching work zones. Drivers accessing I-25 southbound should move into the center lane well ahead of time.
Beginning September 29, the pedestrian bridge over South Academy Boulevard near Wilshire and Welton will be closed for about a week while crews remove and replace sidewalk on the north side of the bridge. Detours will be available via Wilshire Drive, Welton Drive crossing Hartford Street, or by using the Fountain Creek Regional Trail.
East- and westbound South Academy Boulevard between I-25 and Fountain Creek remains shifted toward the center to facilitate outside lane work; this alignment is anticipated until November 2025. Lanes across the southbound bridge over US Highway 85/87 are also narrowed due to ongoing bridge work.
All closures are weather-dependent and may change based on conditions.
The improvements are part of a broader project managed by El Paso County focused on widening a 1.5-mile section of South Academy Boulevard from two lanes to three in each direction between I-25 and Milton Proby Parkway. The project includes upgrades such as improved drainage, lighting, striping, expanded shoulders, modified merge lanes, sound walls, and bridgework. Completion is expected by early 2026.
CDOT conducted a safety assessment along this corridor to identify causes of crashes and develop measures aimed at reducing accidents and addressing infrastructure deficiencies. Over a twenty-year period following completion, officials estimate fewer deaths, injuries, and crashes along these corridors as a result of these transportation improvements.
The Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program (MAMSIP), which encompasses these projects along I-25, Colorado Highway 94, South Academy Boulevard, and Charter Oak Ranch Road aims to improve mobility while supporting economic stability in El Paso County. The program is partially funded by an $18 million BUILD grant from the US Department of Transportation. These enhancements support strategic movement among key military installations 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.
