The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has announced several closures and detours affecting South Academy Boulevard and surrounding areas as part of the ongoing Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program, updates were posted on CDOT’s website for travelers to note. One significant closure includes the temporary full closure of southbound South Academy Boulevard at Bradley Road starting at 3 a.m. on Saturday, until 3 a.m. on Sunday, due to bridge jacking operations over US Highway 85/87, with a detour sending motorists via Bradley Road, Main Street, and back to US 85/87. In addition to the southbound disruption, northbound South Academy Boulevard will also close intermittently for welding operations; traffic will be diverted onto US 85/87 and then to Main Street and Bradley Road to return to South Academy Boulevard during the specified times, according to CDOT.
For drivers navigating these changes, the shifting of traffic is not limited to these closures, with southbound US 85/87 being rerouted to the northbound lanes for a head-to-head configuration on Saturday, March 22, from 4 to 7 a.m., and an ongoing shift of east- and westbound lanes between Interstate 25 and Fountain Creek which is aimed at facilitating the construction of a noise barrier and drainage pipes, the roadway alignment adjustments and bridge widening efforts are designed to alleviate traffic and increase safety on a crucial 1.5-mile stretch of road that is a primary artery for area residents and those accessing military installations nearby, but these necessary enhancements are serving up a hearty side of traffic detours and delays along the way. It should be noted that lane narrowing and acceleration lane changes are also in place, so motorists are advised to proceed with heightened caution.
Overall, the South Academy Boulevard Widening Project promises to ease the recurring congestion by expanding the road to three lanes in each direction, coupled with improvements to the drainage, lighting, and the addition of sound walls, while the I-25 work will address safety and efficiency from South Academy Boulevard down to the Santa Fe Avenue exit at Fountain, the project includes bridge replacements, shoulder widening, and median barriers, and is intended to provide long-term benefits with a completion target of early 2026, according to updates from El Paso County who is managing the project. Current detours and traffic shifts are essential steps towards the enhancement of this key roadway that facilitates movement between significant military installations including Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, and Schriever Space Force Base.
