By james art 
Colorado Springs — The Colorado Department of Transportation has scheduled a temporary full closure of Bandley Drive about one mile north of Santa Fe Avenue the week of Nov. 3 as work is completed on the MAMSIP I-25 safety and efficiency improvement project. Crews will be installing a drain pipe across the roadway beginning Tuesday, November 5th at 7am and continuing through Wednesday, November 6th at 5pm. Businesses in the area will be open and have local access to Bandley Drive. All businesses along Bandley Drive will have access from Mesa Ridge Parkway.
There will be detours:
- Northbound traffic will travel south to Santa Fe Avenue (US 85/87), travel north to Mesa Ridge Parkway and turn west onto Bandley Drive.
- Southbound traffic will travel north to Mesa Ridge Parkway, travel east to Santa Fe Avenue (US 85/87) and travel south to Bandley Drive.
There will also be a series of alternating lane closures on northbound and southbound Interstate 25 between South Academy Boulevard and Santa Fe Avenue several nights during the week of Nov. 3 as work is completed on the MAMSIP I-25 safety and efficiency improvement project. Crews will be laying final striping of the lane, laying asphalt and completing other drilling work overnight on Sunday, November 3, Monday, November 4 and Saturday, November 9.
The speed limit in this area has been reduced to 60 MPH. Traffic delays of 10 to 15 minutes are expected and motorists are urged to use caution when traveling in the area. Fines will double through the construction zone.
El Paso County – MAMSIP – South Academic Boulevard Widening Project
Colorado Springs — The ongoing lane reduction to one lane on northbound South Academy Boulevard at the Fountain Creek Bridge will change the alignment on Tuesday, Nov. 4 at 4:30 a.m. and will be in place until Thursday, Nov. 7 at 4:30 a.m. to allow crews to make repairs to the bridge.
There will be temporary full closure of eastbound and westbound Willshire Drive near the pedestrian bridge on Monday, November 4 through Friday, November 8, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., to allow crews to install a sound wall near South Academy Boulevard. There will be a detour: traffic will use Chadwick Drive or Maxwell Street to enter northbound Wilshire Drive.
As a contingency, a temporary full closure of the ramp from Coventry Drive to South Academy Boulevard westbound is planned for Sunday, November 3 from 7 a.m. to Wednesday, November 6. for drainage works across the carriageway. If necessary, there will be a detour route:
- Traffic using Coventry Drive to enter westbound South Academy Boulevard will travel north on Maxwell Street, turn east on CanAm Highway and continue southeast to enter South Academy Boulevard.
Traffic is planned to be diverted on northbound South Academy Boulevard between Fountain Creek and US 85/87 for Monday, November 4 at 7:00 p.m. until Tuesday, November 5 at 4:30 a.m. to allow crews to work on the US 85/87 entrance and exit ramps.
The east-west shift of South Academy Boulevard between I-25 and Fountain Creek toward downtown continues to allow crews to work on the exterior lanes, install drainage pipes and prepare for construction of soundproofing. This alignment will be in effect until approximately spring 2025.
Drivers are also advised to shifting the I-25 northbound ramp to northbound South Academy Boulevard to a new route is underway and will have a short acceleration lane.
Drivers are advised to use caution at all entrance ramps as the lengths of the merges have been shortened. In particular, drivers should be prepared to stop at US 85/87 on ramp to south academy eastbound and Bradley Road to South Academy in an eastbound direction as the merge area is significantly reduced.
All lanes of Bradley Road under South Academic Boulevard have been shifted to the center of the continuing roadway to allow crews to work on the new bridge piers.
These closures are weather dependent and subject to change.
Traffic impacts
I-25 between US 85/Fountain (MP 127) and South Academy Boulevard (MP 135)
- Temporary full closure of Bandley Drive approximately one mile north of Santa Fe Avenue Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 a.m. through Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 5 p.m. Use detours
- Alternating left and right lane closures on northbound I-25 between Santa Fe Avenue and South Academy Boulevard:
- Sunday, November 3, 7pm to 5am
- Monday, November 4, 6pm to 5am
- Saturday, November 9, 7pm to 8am
- Alternating left and right lane closures on southbound I-25 between Santa Fe Avenue and South Academy Boulevard:
- Sunday, November 3 and Monday, November 4, 7:00pm to 5:00am
- Saturday, November 9, 7pm to 8am
South Academy Boulevard Expansion Project
- The current lane reduction to one lane on northbound South Academy Boulevard at the Fountain Creek Bridge will reroute on Tuesday, November 4th at 4:30am and will be in effect until Thursday, November 7th at 4:30am
- Overnight traffic diversion on northbound South Academy Boulevard between Fountain Creek and US 85/87 on Monday, November 4th from 7:00pm to 4:30am
- Temporary full closure of eastbound and westbound Willshire Drive near the pedestrian bridge from Monday, November 4 to Friday, November 8, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Use detour
- Temporary full emergency closure of the ramp from Coventry Drive to South Academy Boulevard westbound for Sunday, November 3 at 7 AM until Wednesday, November 6. Use a detour
- Continued realignment of South Academy Boulevard eastbound and westbound between I-25 and Fountain Creek by mid to spring 2025.
- Current full closure of the existing northbound and southbound South Academy Boulevard ramps from US 85/87 and transition to a temporary ramp, in place by fall 2024.
- Ongoing all-lane shift on Bradley Road under the South Academic Boulevard bridge
Project overview
Interstate-25 – Safety and efficiency improvements
The I-25 improvements addressed in this project are located along an approximately 7.5 mile segment of southbound I-25 beginning at South Academy Boulevard and extending to the Santa Fe Avenue (US 85/87) exit at Fountain (MP 128) which exits to Gate 19 at Fort Carson. The project includes:
- Replacement of two bridges crossing South Academic Boulevard
- Widening both the inner and outer arms and installing safety improvements
- Concrete surface treatment coating to provide an improved riding surface
- Middle barrier installation
- Rehabilitation and widening of four bridges
- Installation of a southbound delay lane on I-25 at the CO 16 interchange
South Academy Boulevard Expansion Project
The South Academy Boulevard improvements in this project are located on South Academy Boulevard a mile and a half south of this arterial road from the I-25 interchange crossing US Highway 85/87 and continuing to the approach road to Milton Proby Parkway (which connects with Powers Boulevard/CO 21). Construction focused on widening a roughly 1.5-mile stretch of South Academy Boulevard from two lanes to three in each direction to ease recurring congestion. The project includes improved drainage facilities, lighting, widened lanes and shoulders, modified merge lanes, retaining walls and bridges. The project is expected to be completed by early 2026. This project is managed by El Paso County.
Safety benefits
CDOT conducted a safety assessment of the corridor to assess the magnitude and nature of safety problems and to 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 expected to result in fewer deaths, injuries and crashes along the four MAMSIP corridors.
Project contact information
Regarding the grant to build the Military Access, Mobility and Safety Enhancement Program
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) initiated a program to provide 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 and Safety Improvement Program is partially funded by an $18 million BUILD grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The provision of these improvements will enhance and improve strategic movement duplication between El Paso County’s nationally significant military installations Fort Carson, Peterson Air Force Base, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, and Shriver Air Force Base.
Know before you go
Travelers are urged to “know before they go.” Gather information about weather forecasts and expected travel impacts and current road conditions before you hit the road. CDOT resources include:
Remember: Slow for the cone area
The following tips will help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones.
- Do not speed in work zones. Observe posted speed limits.
- Be alert! Expect the unexpected.
- Watch out for workers. Drive with caution.
- Do not change lanes unnecessarily.
- Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones.
- Turn on your headlights so workers and other drivers can see you.
- Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.
- Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
- Leave enough space between you and the car in front of you.
- Anticipate lane changes and merge when instructed to do so.
- Be patient!
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