Overnight full closures are planned for northbound South Academy Boulevard in Colorado Springs on Sunday, Sept. 7 and Monday, Sept. 8 from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., as crews carry out asphalt paving operations between US Highway 85/87 and Bradley Road. A detour will be set up for these closures, directing northbound traffic off at US 85/87, south to Fontaine Boulevard, east to Grinnell Boulevard, north to Bradley Road and then west back to South Academy Boulevard.
Additional overnight closures are scheduled from Tuesday, Sept. 9 through Thursday, Sept. 11 between US Highway 85/87 and Milton Proby Parkway during the same hours. The detour for this segment will take drivers south on Fontaine Boulevard, north onto Grinnell Boulevard, west onto Bradley Road, north onto Hancock Expressway, west onto Milton Proby Parkway before rejoining northbound South Academy.
Lane reductions will continue on both directions of South Academy Boulevard between Venetucci Boulevard and Coventry Drive starting Monday, Sept. 8 at 1 a.m., allowing crews to install traffic signals and islands. This setup is expected to remain until September 2025.
The number of left turn lanes for the Interstate 25 northbound on-ramp (135 ramp) will be reduced from two to one; other auxiliary lanes and shoulders will also see reductions. Two through lanes will remain open in each direction along this stretch of South Academy Boulevard.
Officials warn that delays are likely during peak travel times due to these changes. Drivers are advised to allow extra time for their commutes and merge early when approaching work zones.
A shift of east- and westbound South Academy Boulevard between I-25 and Fountain Creek toward the center is ongoing so crews can work on outside lanes—a change that is also anticipated through September 2025.
Drivers should use caution as narrowed lanes cross the southbound bridge over US Highway 85/87 for ongoing bridgework. Additionally, the alignment of the northbound I-25 off-ramp onto Northbound South Academy has shifted with a shorter acceleration lane now in place.
All entrance ramps have shortened merge lengths; motorists are encouraged to exercise care when entering these areas. There is also a new on-ramp from US Highway 85/87 onto South Academy Boulevard.
Closures depend on weather conditions and may change if necessary.
In observance of Labor Day weekend, project operations ceased at noon Friday through Monday, Sept. 1.
The widening project focuses on expanding about a mile-and-a-half section of South Academy Boulevard from two lanes in each direction to three between the I-25 interchange across US Highway 85/87 up toward Milton Proby Parkway (which links with Powers Boulevard/CO21). The improvements include drainage upgrades, lighting enhancements, expanded shoulders, modified merge lanes, sound walls and bridgework; completion is expected by early 2026 under El Paso County’s management.
According to CDOT’s safety assessment for this corridor—which evaluated crash causes—the upgrades aim to reduce crashes by addressing infrastructure deficiencies along the route. Over two decades following construction across four Military Access Mobility & Safety Improvement Program (MAMSIP) corridors—including I-25—officials expect fewer deaths and injuries due to transportation improvements implemented as mitigation measures.
CDOT has launched this program seeking more efficient mobility along key regional routes: I-25, Colorado Highway 94, South Academy Boulevard and Charter Oak Ranch Road—all intended not only for safer transit but also economic development stability in the area (https://www.codot.gov/projects/militaryaccesssafetyimprovements).
An $18 million BUILD grant awarded by the U.S Department of Transportation partially funds MAMSIP improvements that support critical connections among Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station and Schriever Space Force Base—installations considered nationally significant within El Paso County (https://www.transportation.gov/BUILDgrants).
For updates or alerts about construction activities related to MAMSIP projects visit https://www.codot.gov/projects/militaryaccesssafetyimprovements or text “MAMSIP” to 888-970-9665.
