Academy Boulevard Improvements Project

Construction

Traffic Impacts

(All schedules are weather dependent)

South Academy Boulevard between Platte Avenue and Airport Road

Beginning Monday night, April 29, a full closure of Airport Road will be in place on the east side of South Academy Boulevard. Both eastbound and westbound Airport Road traffic will be fully closed east of South Academy Boulevard to allow crews to place new underground utility lines across the intersection. This closure is scheduled to continue until Thursday, May 9, although crews will make every effort to complete operations and reopen the roadway ahead of schedule.

Detour information:

Eastbound Airport Road traffic will detour south on South Academy Boulevard to Fountain Boulevard, go east to Murray Boulevard, and turn north to access Airport Road on the east.
Westbound Airport Road traffic will detour north on Murray Boulevard to Pikes Peak Avenue, go west to South Academy Boulevard and turn south to access Airport Road on the west.

Once work is completed on the east side of South Academy Boulevard, crews will begin operations on the west side. Impacts will be in place on Airport Road through this fall.

South Academy Boulevard between East Fountain Boulevard and Jet Wing Drive

Underground operations continue on Hancock Expressway and Southbound Academy Boulevard with all directions of traffic reduced to one lane throughout the intersection. Crews have moved Hancock Expressway traffic to the north and are working below the eastbound lanes to replace the underground water line. There are no turn restrictions at Hancock Expressway and South Academy Boulevard during these operations.

Expect delays and use alternative routes.

About

The City of Colorado Springs is moving forward to put Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA) dollars to work. Along with contractor partner AMES Construction, the City will begin work to improve the safety, provide better mobility and pedestrian access, and improve storm sewers on S. Academy Boulevard between Bijou Street and Airport Road, and between East Fountain Boulevard and Jet Wing Drive (18 lane miles).

The vision for this corridor is guided by studies that helped define the need for infrastructure improvements and community revitalization. The Project will replace aging pavement, curb and gutter and improve drainage along the project corridor. To provide for better multi-modal and pedestrian access, a new multi-use path will be constructed on one side of Academy Boulevard. Significant drainage improvements will be installed in the roadway, including new manholes, inlets, and drainage pipe. Colorado Springs Utilities also will relocate and upgrade water and wastewater lines in support of the roadway project.

When the project is complete in 2025, look for

A smoother, more comfortable driving surface
Reduction and/or elimination of ponding water on the roadway surface
Improved pedestrian accessibility

Project Construction Schedule

Construction of the corridor will be divided into 2 different segments over the course of 24 months:

Segment 1 (North) – South Academy Boulevard between Bijou Street and Airport Road
- Construction starts late February 2023
Segment 2 (South) – South Academy Boulevard between East Fountain Boulevard and Jet Wing Drive
- Construction starts Spring 2023

The construction will focus on replacing aging infrastructure with new pavement including 7.5 inches of new asphalt with new curb and gutter over reclaimed and recompacted base course.

Segment 1 (North) – South Academy Boulevard between Bijou Street and Airport Road)

Phasing

In construction Phase 1, traffic will be initially pushed to the outsides of Academy Boulevard to support median demo and construction of detour pavement.
Phase 2 traffic will be pushed to the west half of the roadway to construct the east side of the roadway, and
Flipped in Phase 3 to the east side to complete the west side of the roadway, then again pushed to the outside to complete the median construction.
During phased construction, traffic will be limited to two lanes in each direction, from the current three lane configuration, and temporary access will need to be maintained to smaller side streets and businesses accesses.

Funding

This is a voter-approved, Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA) A-listed project. Estimated cost to repair existing asphalt (18 lane miles), concrete and storm sewers: $62 million.