Overnight closures and lane reductions are scheduled for South Academy Boulevard in Colorado Springs as part of ongoing work under the Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program (MAMSIP). The closures will affect northbound traffic between US Highway 85/87 and Bradley Road on Sunday, Sept. 7 and Monday, Sept. 8 from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., with detours in place. Northbound traffic will be rerouted via US 85/87, Fontaine Boulevard, Grinnell Boulevard, Bradley Road, and back to South Academy Boulevard.
Further overnight closures are planned between US 85/87 and Milton Proby Parkway from Tuesday, Sept. 9 through Thursday, Sept. 11 during the same hours. Drivers will follow a detour that includes exits at US 85/87 and travel along Fontaine Boulevard, Grinnell Boulevard, Bradley Road, Hancock Expressway, and Milton Proby Parkway before re-entering northbound South Academy.
In addition to the closures, lane reductions on both directions of South Academy Boulevard between Venetucci Boulevard and Coventry Drive will begin Monday, Sept. 8 at 1 a.m., allowing crews to install new traffic signals and islands. This configuration is expected to remain through September 2025.
The two left turn lanes for the Interstate 25 northbound on-ramp (135 ramp) will be reduced to one left turn lane; other auxiliary lanes and shoulders will also be affected. Two thru lanes in each direction on South Academy Boulevard will remain open in this area.
Motorists should expect delays during peak travel times and are advised to allow extra time for their commutes. Drivers accessing I-25 northbound should move into the center lane well ahead of the work zone.
Other ongoing changes include a shift of east- and westbound South Academy Boulevard between I-25 and Fountain Creek toward the center to facilitate outside lane work—a setup expected until September 2025. Lane narrowing continues across the southbound bridge over US 85/87 for bridgework.
A shift remains in effect for the northbound I-25 off-ramp to northbound South Academy Boulevard with a short acceleration lane; merge lengths at entrance ramps have been shortened due to construction adjustments.
All scheduled closures are weather-dependent and may change as needed.
Project operations will pause from noon Friday through Monday, Sept. 1 in observance of Labor Day weekend.
The South Academy Boulevard Widening Project focuses on expanding about a mile-and-a-half section from two lanes to three in each direction from the I-25 interchange past US Highway 85/87 toward Milton Proby Parkway. The project includes improved drainage facilities, lighting, striping, expanded shoulders, modified merge lanes, sound walls, and bridgework. Completion is anticipated by early 2026; El Paso County manages the project.
A safety assessment conducted by CDOT identified crash causes along this corridor; improvements aim to reduce accidents by addressing infrastructure deficiencies over the next two decades.
According to CDOT’s project information page (https://www.codot.gov/projects/militaryaccesssafetyimprovements), MAMSIP is designed to improve mobility along key corridors including I-25, Colorado Highway 94, South Academy Boulevard, and Charter Oak Ranch Road—critical routes supporting military installations such as Fort Carson and Peterson Space Force Base in El Paso County.
“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.”
“Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has initiated a program to deliver more efficient and safer mobility along I-25, Colorado Highway 94, South Academy Boulevard, and Charter Oak Ranch Road, enabling economic stability and development. The Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program is partially funded through an $18 million BUILD grant award from the US Department of Transportation. 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.”
Residents can find more information or register for alerts at https://www.codot.gov/projects/militaryaccesssafetyimprovements or by texting MAMSIP to 888-970-9665.
