Various lane closures are scheduled for South Academy Boulevard in Colorado Springs on Monday, December 22 from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesday, December 23 from 7 a.m. to noon. The affected stretch is between Venetucci Boulevard and Milton Proby Parkway. These closures will allow crews to install signage and complete remaining work on the roadway, traffic signals, and lighting. During this period, two lanes of traffic will remain open in both directions.
Project operations will pause at noon on December 23 through Sunday, January 4, 2026, to reduce potential traffic delays during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Emergency operations may be an exception during this time.
The South Academy Boulevard Widening Project covers approximately one and a half miles of the arterial road from the I-25 interchange across US 85/87 toward Milton E. Proby Parkway. The construction aims to expand South Academy Boulevard from two lanes to three in each direction to ease congestion. Additional improvements include enhanced drainage systems, new lighting, updated striping, wider shoulders, modified merge lanes, sound walls, and bridge upgrades. El Paso County manages this project with completion expected by early 2026.
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) performed a safety assessment for the corridor to determine safety issues and analyze crash causes. CDOT stated that these improvements are intended as mitigation measures “to reduce crashes, improve infrastructure, and address physical deficiencies that contribute to crashes in the corridor.” Over the next two decades, it is estimated that these changes will lead to fewer deaths and injuries along four corridors included in the Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program (MAMSIP).
According to CDOT’s program information page (https://www.codot.gov/projects/militaryaccesssafetyimprovements), MAMSIP aims to provide safer and more efficient travel along I-25, Colorado Highway 94, South Academy Boulevard, and Charter Oak Ranch Road while supporting economic development in the region. The program is partially funded by an $18 million BUILD grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. These transportation improvements are also designed to enhance strategic movement among military installations such as Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, and Schriever Space Force Base.
For further information about ongoing or upcoming work related to this project or to register for alerts via text message or phone hotline services provided by CDOT.
