There will be lane closures on South Academy Boulevard in Colorado Springs from Monday, Dec. 1 through Friday, Dec. 5, between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., as crews install signage and finish work related to traffic signal lighting and utilities. The affected area stretches between Venetucci Boulevard and Milton Proby Parkway. Two lanes of traffic will remain open in both directions during this period.
The ongoing South Academy Boulevard Widening Project focuses on expanding about 1.5 miles of the road from two lanes to three in each direction to reduce congestion. The project also includes upgrades such as better drainage, new lighting, improved striping, wider shoulders, modified merge lanes, sound walls, and bridge improvements. Work is expected to finish by early 2026.
El Paso County manages the project, which addresses recurring safety concerns along the corridor identified in a safety assessment conducted by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). 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.” The agency estimates that over the next two decades, these changes will lead to fewer deaths and injuries on the four Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program (MAMSIP) corridors.
The broader MAMSIP initiative covers I-25, Colorado Highway 94, South Academy Boulevard, and Charter Oak Ranch Road. CDOT states that its goal is “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 program has received partial funding from an $18 million BUILD grant from the US Department of Transportation. It aims to support reliable access between key military sites in El Paso County: Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, and Schriever Space Force Base.
For more information about this project or to register for alerts via text message or email updates visit codot.gov/projects/militaryaccesssafetyimprovements.
