Ongoing construction on South Academy Boulevard in Colorado Springs will bring lane reductions and overnight closures as part of the Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program (MAMSIP). Starting Thursday, Sept. 4 at 1 a.m., north- and southbound South Academy Boulevard between Venetucci Boulevard and Coventry Drive will be reduced to allow for installation of traffic signals and islands. This alignment is expected to remain through September 2025.
Northbound South Academy Boulevard’s two left turn lanes for the I-25 northbound on-ramp will be reduced to one, with additional auxiliary lanes and shoulders also affected. However, two thru lanes will remain open in both directions in this area.
Officials advise drivers to expect delays, especially during peak hours, and recommend allowing extra time, maintaining safe distances, and merging early when approaching work zones. Drivers accessing I-25 northbound should move to the center lane well ahead of time.
There are several scheduled overnight full closures:
– Northbound South Academy Boulevard under I-25 will close Tuesday, Sept. 2 from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for asphalt paving. A detour will direct traffic onto southbound I-25 to Mesa Ridge Parkway (exit 132A), across the bridge, then back onto northbound I-25 before returning to South Academy.
– Northbound South Academy between US 85/87 and Milton Proby Parkway will close Tuesday, Sept. 2; Friday, Sept. 5; and Saturday, Sept. 6 from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., with a detour via US 85/87 south to Fontaine Boulevard, Grinnell Boulevard north, Bradley Road west, Hancock Expressway north, Milton Proby Parkway west, then back onto North Academy.
– Overnight closures between I-25 and US Highway 85/87 are planned for Wednesday, Sept. 3 and Thursday, Sept. 4 from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., with detours routing traffic via southbound I-25 to Mesa Ridge Parkway east onto U.S. 85/87 before returning north.
Southbound I-25 at South Academy Boulevard will have alternating lane closures Tuesday night for concrete grinding work.
A shift toward the center lanes on east- and westbound South Academy between I-25 and Fountain Creek continues until September 2025 so crews can work on outside lanes.
Motorists should note narrowed lanes over the southbound bridge at US 85/87 due to ongoing bridgework and that merge lengths at entrance ramps have been shortened as new ramp alignments are implemented.
All closures depend on weather conditions and may change accordingly.
Construction operations will pause at noon Friday through Monday in observance of Labor Day weekend.
The widening project covers about a mile-and-a-half section of South Academy from the I-25 interchange across US Highway 85/87 up to Milton Proby Parkway near Powers Boulevard/CO21. The goal is to expand the road from two lanes each way to three in each direction by early 2026 in order to reduce congestion recurring along this stretch. Additional improvements include drainage upgrades, lighting enhancements, expanded shoulders, modified merge lanes, sound walls and bridgework—all managed by El Paso County.
According to CDOT’s safety assessment for this corridor—which analyzed crash causes—these improvements aim “to reduce crashes, improve infrastructure, and address physical deficiencies that contribute to crashes.” Over the next two decades these changes are expected “to result in fewer deaths injuries and crashes on the four MAMSIP corridors.”
The broader MAMSIP effort targets safer mobility along major routes including I-25 Colorado Highway 94, South Academy Boulevard and Charter Oak Ranch Road—key connections supporting economic stability around El Paso County’s military installations such as Fort Carson; Peterson Space Force Base; Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station; and Schriever Space Force Base.
CDOT received an $18 million BUILD grant from the U.S Department of Transportation toward this program which aims “to deliver more efficient and safer mobility” while enhancing strategic movement redundancy between these nationally significant bases.
“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.”
For updates or alerts about construction schedules visit codot.gov/projects/militaryaccesssafetyimprovements or text MAMSIP to 888-970-9665.
