Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Project

News Release

El Paso County - The Colorado Department of Transportation, El Paso County, the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority and project partners announced the completion of the Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Project in July 2026, marking the end of a five-year, approximately $161 million infrastructure project designed to improve safety, efficiency and military connectivity across four strategic corridors in the El Paso County region. The project's final component - South Academy Boulevard - was completed this month, closing out a the overall MAMSIP project that began with a groundbreaking at Fountain Creek Park on June 2, 2021.

MAMSIP improved four corridors - Interstate 25, Colorado Highway 94, South Academy Boulevard and Charter Oak Ranch Road - that together form the critical transportation links connecting Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station and Schriever Space Force Base. The project was funded through CDOT, El Paso County, PPRTA and an $18.35 million federal BUILD Grant, with more than 80 percent of funding coming from state, regional and local sources. Construction was performed by SEMA Construction, Inc.

"The vitality of the Pikes Peak region is a key part of Colorado's success," said Shoshana Lew, CDOT executive director, "We want to ensure that pillars of our national security - like the military installations in this region - can be accessed safely and predictably, even as the civilian population continues to grow. These transportation improvements will better enable the population to grow through more efficient movement, making the Pikes Peak area more attractive for the military and nationally strategic missions in future years."

The four MAMSIP project components include:

Colorado Highway 94 Safety Improvements (Completed: spring 2023)

CO 94 connects Peterson Space Force Base with Schriever Space Force Base and is traveled daily by approximately 15,000 military and civilian personnel. The corridor had suffered from congestion, steep grades and accidents involving slow-moving heavy vehicles. Key improvements included a new westbound passing lane, a signalized "jug handle" intersection at Blaney Road to divert slow-moving trucks, and approximately nine miles of fiber-optic cable to enable future intelligent transportation system capabilities.

Charter Oak Ranch Road Improvements (Completed: spring 2023)

Charter Oak Ranch Road is the sole access to Fort Carson's Gate 19, designated by the U.S. Army as important to national defense. Deteriorating conditions had been pushing personnel to use Gate 20 instead, causing regular backups onto I-25 off-ramps. Improvements included a full roadway rebuild and widening, a new roundabout replacing a four-way stop at Santa Fe Avenue, drainage upgrades and structural improvements.

Interstate 25 Safety & Efficiency Improvements (Completed: fall 2024)

The 7.5-mile I-25 segment between South Academy Boulevard and Santa Fe Avenue in Fountain recorded 18 fatalities in the five years prior to MAMSIP's BUILD application, many from head-on collisions across an unprotected median. The corridor received a comprehensive overhaul including replacement of two 1971-era bridges over South Academy Boulevard, shoulder widening, a concrete overlay providing a 30-year pavement design life, installation of a full-length median barrier virtually eliminating fatal head-on collisions, maintenance on four additional bridges, and a lengthened deceleration lane at CO 16.

South Academy Boulevard Efficiency and Resiliency Improvements (Completed: July 2026)

South Academy Boulevard is a 15-mile arterial carrying approximately 57,500 vehicles daily, serving as a critical link between Peterson Space Force Base and Fort Carson. The southern 1.5-mile segment was chronically congested and crossed two Fountain Creek bridges rated as scour-critical - at risk of structural failure following major flood events. Improvements expanded the roadway from two lanes to three lanes in each direction, completed scour repairs and bridge widening over Fountain Creek, US 85/87, and Bradley Road, and added noise walls, new drainage and lighting infrastructure.

Highlights:

• Duration: Five years (June 2, 2021, groundbreaking to July 2026 completion)
• Total Cost: Approximately $161 million which includes PPRTA funds
• Federal BUILD Grant: $18.35 million
• South Academy
• Contractor: SEMA Construction, Inc.
• Corridors Improved: I-25 (7.5 miles), CO 94 (9 miles), South Academy Blvd (1.5 miles) and Charter Oak Ranch Road (~0.75 miles)
• Benefit-Cost Ratio: 2.5-to-1
• Military Installations Served: Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base and Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station
• Bridges Replaced or Improved: Eight

MAMSIP's completion reflects the work of dozens of organizations and hundreds of individuals - from elected officials who championed the BUILD Grant to construction crews who delivered these improvements through Colorado winters and summers. The project's success demonstrates what is possible when federal, state, regional and local partners align around a shared mission to support national security and regional mobility.

Project Information

For additional information about this project:

• Visit the project website at: codot.gov/projects/militaryaccesssafetyimprovements

Know Before You Go

Travelers are urged to "know before you go." Gather information about weather forecasts and anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:

• Road conditions and travel information: COtrip.org
• Download the COtrip Planner app: bit.ly/COtripapp
• Sign up for project or travel alerts: bit.ly/COnewsalerts
• Check scheduled construction lane closures: bit.ly/laneclosures
• Connect with @ColoradoDOT on social media: X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube

Remember: Slow For The Cone Zone

The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones.

• Do not speed in work zones. Obey the posted speed limits.
• Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected.
• Watch for workers. Drive with caution.
• Don't change lanes unnecessarily.
• Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones.
• Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you.
• Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.
• Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
• Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.
• Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so.
• Be patient!

Download the COtrip App!

The new free COtrip Planner mobile app was designed to meet the growing trend of information on mobile and tablet devices for the traveling public. The COtrip Planner app provides statewide, real-time traffic information, and works on mobile devices that operate on the iOS and Android platforms. Visit the Google Play Store (Android devices) or the Apple Store (iOS devices) to download!