Overnight closures and lane reductions are planned for South Academy Boulevard in Colorado Springs as part of ongoing construction efforts to improve traffic flow and safety. Northbound South Academy Boulevard will be closed between US 85/87 and Milton Proby Parkway from Sunday, September 14 at 7 p.m. until Monday, September 15 at 5:30 a.m., with contingency nights scheduled for the following two days if needed. During these times, a detour route will direct northbound traffic through several local roads before rejoining South Academy.
Lane reductions that began on September 8 between Venetucci Boulevard and Coventry Drive will continue through September 2025. These measures are intended to allow crews to install new traffic signals and islands safely. The left turn lanes onto the Interstate 25 northbound on-ramp (135 ramp) have been reduced from two lanes to one, but two thru lanes remain open in each direction on South Academy Boulevard in this area.
Drivers should anticipate delays, especially during peak hours, and are advised to merge early and drive cautiously near work zones. Those accessing I-25 northbound are encouraged to move into the center lane well ahead of time.
In addition, there is an ongoing shift of east- and westbound South Academy Boulevard between I-25 and Fountain Creek toward the center of the road to facilitate work on outside lanes; this alignment is expected until September 2025. Lanes over the southbound bridge above US 85/87 have also been narrowed for continued bridgework.
The realignment of the northbound I-25 off-ramp to northbound South Academy Boulevard continues, featuring a short acceleration lane. Motorists are reminded that entrance ramps now have shortened merge lengths due to construction changes, including a new on-ramp from US 85/87 onto South Academy Boulevard.
All schedules are subject to weather conditions.
The current improvements focus on widening about a mile-and-a-half section of South Academy Boulevard from two lanes to three in each direction between I-25 and Milton Proby Parkway, which connects with Powers Boulevard/CO 21. The project also includes upgrades such as drainage facilities, lighting, striping, expanded shoulders, modified merge lanes, sound walls, and bridgework. El Paso County manages this project with completion targeted for early 2026.
According to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), these changes follow a safety assessment aimed at reducing crashes by addressing infrastructure deficiencies along the corridor. Over the next two decades, CDOT estimates that these improvements across four Military Access Mobility & Safety Improvement Program (MAMSIP) corridors will decrease fatalities, injuries, and overall crashes.
CDOT’s broader initiative seeks more efficient travel along I-25, Colorado Highway 94, South Academy Boulevard, and Charter Oak Ranch Road while supporting economic development in El Paso County. The program has received partial funding through an $18 million BUILD grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. According to CDOT’s statement: “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 more information or updates about closures related to MAMSIP projects in Colorado Springs—including detour maps—visit https://www.codot.gov/projects/militaryaccesssafetyimprovements or sign up for alerts by texting MAMSIP to 888-970-9665.
