Various lane closures are scheduled on South Academy Boulevard in Colorado Springs as part of ongoing work related to the Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Project. The closures will take place between Venetucci Boulevard and Milton Proby Parkway from Sunday, November 23 through Tuesday, November 25, between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., and on Wednesday, November 26 from 7 a.m. to noon. The purpose is to allow crews to install signage and finish remaining roadway, traffic signal, and utilities work. Two lanes of traffic will remain open in both directions during these periods.
Additional mobile lane closures will occur on the same stretch from Monday, November 24 at 10 p.m. until midnight on Tuesday, November 25. Construction operations will pause at noon on Wednesday, November 26 and resume after Monday, December 1 for the Thanksgiving holiday.
The South Academy Boulevard Widening Project involves expanding approximately 1.5 miles of roadway from two lanes to three in each direction. This section runs from the I-25 interchange across US 85/87 toward Milton E. Proby Parkway (connecting to Powers Boulevard/CO 21). The project also includes upgrades such as improved drainage facilities, lighting, striping, expanded shoulders, modified merge lanes, sound walls, and bridgework. El Paso County manages this project and expects completion by early 2026.
A safety assessment conducted by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) identified various safety issues along the corridor that contribute to crashes. “These transportation improvements are mitigation measures to reduce crashes, improve infrastructure, and address physical deficiencies that contribute to crashes in the corridor,” according to CDOT. Over a span of two decades following completion of these improvements across four project corridors—South Academy Boulevard among them—officials estimate there will be fewer deaths, injuries, and accidents.
The broader Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program aims to enhance mobility along I-25, Colorado Highway 94, South Academy Boulevard, and Charter Oak Ranch Road while supporting economic stability and development in the region. The program receives partial funding through an $18 million BUILD grant from the US Department of Transportation. The upgrades are intended to strengthen transportation links among major military installations in El Paso County including Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, and Schriever Space Force Base.
More information about this project can be found at https://www.codot.gov/projects/militaryaccesssafetyimprovements.
