There will be a temporary full closure of southbound South Academy Boulevard between US 85/87 and Interstate 25, including the on- and off-ramps to Coventry Drive, on Sunday, November 16 from 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m., according to an announcement from transportation officials. The closure is necessary for crews to install overhead signage over the roadway. A contingency night is scheduled for Monday, November 17 during the same hours if needed.
A detour will direct southbound South Academy Boulevard traffic onto US 85/87, then northwest to B Street, south to Magrath Avenue, east to re-enter South Academy Boulevard. For those on US 85/87 intending to enter southbound South Academy Boulevard, drivers will travel south to Mesa Ridge Parkway, west to northbound Interstate 25, north to exit 135 and then west onto South Academy.
Additionally, various alternating lane closures in both directions on South Academy Boulevard are planned between Venetucci Boulevard and Milton Proby Parkway from Sunday, November 16 through Friday, November 21 between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. These closures allow for installation of signage and completion of roadway, drainage, traffic signal and utilities work. At least one lane of traffic will remain open in each direction.
Drivers are advised to obey posted speed limits and stay alert for flaggers and construction equipment within the work zone.
The ongoing widening project targets a southern section of South Academy Boulevard stretching about one-and-a-half miles from the I-25 interchange across US 85/87 toward Milton E. Proby Parkway. The project aims to expand the road from two lanes to three in each direction in order to address congestion issues. Other improvements include upgraded drainage systems, lighting enhancements, new striping and expanded shoulders as well as modified merge lanes, sound walls and bridgework. Completion is expected by early 2026.
El Paso County manages this project.
A safety assessment conducted by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) found that these improvements are intended as mitigation measures designed to reduce crashes and improve infrastructure along the corridor by addressing physical deficiencies that contribute to accidents.
The Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program (MAMSIP), which includes this project among others along I-25, Colorado Highway 94, South Academy Boulevard and Charter Oak Ranch Road, seeks to enhance mobility for both civilian motorists and military operations near El Paso County installations such as Fort Carson and several Space Force bases. The program received partial funding through an $18 million BUILD grant awarded by the US Department of Transportation.
According to CDOT: “These transportation improvements are mitigation measures to reduce crashes, improve infrastructure, and address physical deficiencies that contribute to crashes in the corridor.”
More information about the project can be found at codot.gov/projects/militaryaccesssafetyimprovements or by contacting CDOT via email or hotline.
