Get ready for a series of detours and lane shifts, as the Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Program announces updates for the week of April 20, 2025. El Paso County drivers, particularly those frequenting South Academy Boulevard, brace for the temporary full closures of the southbound South Academy Boulevard off-ramp to Bradley Road this Wednesday, April 23 from 3 to 5 a.m. The closure is set to facilitate the mobilization of equipment for paving operations near the roadway, as reported by CDOT.
A detour will reroute southbound traffic via US Highway 85/87, with drivers needing to exit and re-enter northbound on South Academy Boulevard to reach Bradley Road. For those needing visual guidance, a detour map has been released, clarifying that this short-term change is meant to aid in significant construction advancements. Moreover, motorists will face narrowed lanes over the southbound bridge on US Highway 85/87 as crews carry on with vital bridge work.
Commuters should also be aware of the ongoing shift of east- and westbound traffic on South Academy Boulevard toward the center median between Interstate 25 and Fountain Creek. This adjustment is to allow space for the installation of drainage pipes and the construction of a noise barrier, with the realigned lanes expected to stay put until August 2025. Additionally, all lanes of Bradley Road under the South Academy Boulevard bridge have been diverted northward to accommodate slope paving efforts for the overhead structure. These developments come as part of the expansive South Academy Boulevard Widening Project, aiming to ease the recurring congestion by widening the road from two to three lanes in each direction.
The project address includes improvements along an approximate 1.5-mile stretch from the I-25 interchange, across US Highway 85/87, and towards Milton Proby Parkway. Safety is a top priority for the CDOT, which has conducted comprehensive safety assessments to identify and subsequently mitigate potential traffic hazards. According to CDOT, "these transportation improvements are mitigation measures to reduce crashes, improve infrastructure, and address physical deficiencies that contribute to crashes in the corridor."
