Bay Area commuters, expect significant detours and traffic snags starting next week due to ongoing construction efforts to enhance transportation infrastructure and increase safety around military installations. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has issued updates for the much-anticipated widening of South Academy Boulevard in El Paso County. The project aims to expand the road from two lanes to three in each direction, to reduce recurring congestion and support the region's military bases.
According to CDOT, due to persistent weather conditions, the planned full closure of southbound South Academy Boulevard between Bradley Road and US 85/87 has been pushed back to Feb. 8, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. This means that those heading south will need to take an alternate route, exiting onto Bradley Road, continuing to Main Street, and then to US 85/87 to rejoin South Academy Boulevard. Additionally, the on-ramp to southbound Interstate 25 from westbound South Academy Boulevard will close from the evening of Feb. 7 to the afternoon of the following day for drainage installation, necessitating detours via Magrath Avenue.
As crews work diligently to stripe new lanes and shift barriers, localized disruptions will be evident across several points on the road network. On Feb. 3, motorists should anticipate mobile lane closures along north- and southbound South Academy Boulevard, and flag-controlled lane closures along Bradley Road under South Academy Boulevard. For travelers, this means delays and the need for heightened caution across these typically bustling corridors.
The project, which is part of CDOT's Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program, also includes improvements such as better drainage, lighting, and modified merge lanes, and is set for completion by early 2026. In their statement, CDOT detailed the safety benefits envisaged by the undertaking, aiming to reduce crashes, improve infrastructure, and address physical deficiencies that contribute to crashes in the corridor. It is expected that over the next 20 years, these enhancements will result in fewer deaths, injuries, and crashes along the affected routes.
