Lane closures are planned on Interstate 25 between South Academy Boulevard and Santa Fe Avenue in Colorado Springs as part of ongoing safety and mobility improvements. The closures, scheduled for the nights of October 7 and 8, will allow crews to refresh roadway striping. On October 7, the southbound left lane will be closed from 9 p.m. to midnight, followed by a right lane closure until 4:30 a.m. on October 8. Northbound closures between Santa Fe Avenue and South Academy Boulevard are set for October 8 from 8 p.m. to midnight (left lane) and from midnight to 4:30 a.m. on October 9 (right lane).
Ongoing lane reductions continue on southbound South Academy Boulevard between I-25 and Coventry Drive for traffic signal and island installations, with this configuration expected through October 5. The two left turn lanes for the I-25 southbound on-ramp will be reduced to one, though two through lanes remain open in the area.
Additional work starting Monday, October 6 at 7 a.m., will extend these reductions through October 12 for further installations. During this period, there will be a left lane closure under I-25 on southbound South Academy Boulevard; two through lanes remain available. The northbound left turn lane onto the I-25 ramp will also be closed west of the southbound ramps.
Motorists should expect delays during peak travel times and are advised to plan accordingly by allowing extra time, maintaining safe following distances, and merging early near work zones.
The pedestrian bridge over South Academy Boulevard near Wilshire and Welton is scheduled to reopen on Monday, October 6 after sidewalk replacement work on its north side is completed. Cyclists and pedestrians can use detours via Wilshire Drive, Welton Drive, Hartford Street or Fountain Creek Regional Trail while work continues.
A traffic shift moving east- and westbound lanes of South Academy Boulevard toward the center—between I-25 and Fountain Creek—remains in place until November 2025 so that crews can work safely on outside lanes.
Narrowed lanes across the southbound bridge over US Highway 85/87 continue as bridgework progresses.
These construction schedules may change due to weather conditions.
The widening project along South Academy Boulevard covers approximately one-and-a-half miles from the I-25 interchange past US Highway 85/87 toward Milton Proby Parkway (which connects with Powers Boulevard/CO21). This section is being expanded from two to three lanes each way to help relieve congestion issues in southern Colorado Springs. Upgrades include improved drainage systems, lighting enhancements, new striping, larger shoulders, modified merge areas, sound walls and bridge improvements. El Paso County manages this project with completion targeted for early 2026.
According to officials at Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), “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.”
CDOT has launched these projects as part of its Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program (MAMSIP), which targets enhanced mobility along I-25 as well as Colorado Highway 94, South Academy Boulevard and Charter Oak Ranch Road—all important routes supporting military installations such as Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station and Schriever Space Force Base in El Paso County. Funding includes an $18 million BUILD grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation; program goals include strengthening strategic transportation connections crucial for regional economic stability.
For more information about these projects or traffic alerts visit codot.gov/projects/militaryaccesssafetyimprovements or text MAMSIP to 888-970-9665.
