Various lane closures are scheduled on South Academy Boulevard in Colorado Springs as part of ongoing construction work. Northbound and southbound lanes between Venetucci Boulevard and Milton Proby Parkway will be affected on Monday, Dec. 22 from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesday, Dec. 23 from 7 a.m. to noon. Crews will install signage and complete remaining roadway, traffic signal, and lighting tasks during these times. Two lanes of traffic will remain open in both directions.
Drivers are advised to follow posted speed limits, keep safe distances, and watch for workers and equipment in the area.
Construction activities will pause at noon on Tuesday, Dec. 23 through Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 to reduce traffic delays over the Christmas and New Year holidays. Only emergency operations may take place during this period.
The South Academy Boulevard Widening Project is expanding about 1.5 miles of the road from two lanes to three in each direction to address congestion issues. The project also includes upgrades such as improved drainage systems, new lighting, updated striping, expanded shoulders, modified merge lanes, sound walls, and bridgework. Completion is expected by early 2026.
El Paso County manages the project.
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) conducted a safety assessment along the corridor to identify safety problems and their causes. The improvements are intended as mitigation measures aimed at reducing crashes and addressing deficiencies contributing to accidents within the corridor.
According to CDOT estimates, these upgrades across four corridors under the Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program (MAMSIP) could result in fewer deaths, injuries, and crashes over the next two decades.
The broader MAMSIP initiative seeks to improve mobility along I-25, Colorado Highway 94, South Academy Boulevard, and Charter Oak Ranch Road with support from an $18 million BUILD grant awarded by the US Department of Transportation (https://www.transportation.gov/BUILDgrants). The program aims to strengthen transportation links between key military installations in El Paso County—Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, and Schriever Space Force Base—helping ensure economic stability and development in the region.
For more information about the project or updates:
– Visit codot.gov/projects/militaryaccesssafetyimprovements
– Email [email protected]
– Call hotline: 719-800-2162
– Register for alerts by texting MAMSIP to 888-970-9665
