### Temporary Night Closures on South Academy Boulevard for Bridge Work

Residents and motorists in Colorado Springs are advised of an impending closure of southbound South Academy Boulevard between US Highway 85/87 and Coventry Drive due to essential maintenance.

According to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), the closure will occur on Wednesday and Thursday nights from 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. This scheduled downtime will enable workers to reposition barriers, apply new striping for a lane reduction, and shift traffic to the bridge’s exterior lanes over Fountain Creek Bridge.

During this period, detours will be implemented for southbound travelers. Drivers exiting South Academy Boulevard will reroute via US 85/87, head northwest to B Street, proceed south to Magrath Avenue, and then re-enter South Academy Boulevard. Additionally, US 85/87 traffic aiming to navigate southbound on South Academy Boulevard will go south to Mesa Ridge Parkway, turn west onto northbound I-25, travel north to exit 135, and finally head west onto South Academy.

Come Thursday at 4:30 a.m., southbound South Academy Boulevard at the Fountain Creek bridge will witness a lane reduction to a single lane. This step is critical for CDOT teams to conduct rehabilitation work on the bridge deck and curbs. This single-lane configuration is expected to last about 30 days. Motorists are urged to exercise caution or seek alternate routes due to the narrower lane width.

Further closures are anticipated on the section between Bradley Road and US 85/87, starting from 7 p.m. on Friday to 4:30 a.m. on Saturday for bridge jacking operations on the US 85/87 bridge. Detours here will guide drivers exiting South Academy Boulevard down Bradley Road, east to Main Street, south to US 85/87, northwest, and back onto South Academy Boulevard.

CDOT emphasizes cautious driving within these closure limits to ensure safety and smooth operations for all.