This weekend is expected to bring busy roads around Colorado Springs as post-holiday travel gets underway. Here are the crucial transportation and construction updates that will likely impact travelers in the coming week.

Stay Informed About Colorado Springs' Road Changes

Interstate 25 Updates

Starting from December 4th, southbound I-25 will be closed at Mesa Ridge Parkway. This closure is part of a safety and efficiency improvement project carried out by the Colorado Department of Transportation. Crews will be working on repairing bridge joints and replacing concrete pavement panels. The closure is anticipated to last from 9 a.m. to 5 a.m. on December 5th. A detour will be in place, directing traffic from Mesa Ridge Parkway onto the CanAm Highway, then south onto Santa Fe Avenue to reenter I-25. This map shows the planned closure clearly, providing valuable information for travelers. (Courtesy of CDOT)During this time, it's essential for drivers to plan their routes accordingly and allow extra time for their journeys. The closure will have a significant impact on traffic flow in the area, and alternative routes should be considered.

Bustang Bus Service Changes

Starting on Saturday, November 30th, Bustang will be terminating its stop at the Tejon Park-n-Ride in South Colorado Springs. From the next day onwards, the southern terminus for Bustang service from Denver and the northern terminus for service from Pueblo will be relocated to the Colorado Springs Downtown Terminal at 127 E. Kiowa St. Riders also have the option to use an alternate stop at the Woodmen Park-n-Ride at the southwest corner of I-25 and Woodmen Road Interchange. CDOT stated that these changes are being made to address declining ridership and safety concerns at the Tejon location. It's important for Bustang passengers to be aware of these modifications and adjust their travel plans accordingly.

South Academy Boulevard Closures

On the night of December 7th, northbound South Academy will be completely closed between U.S. Highway 85/87 and Milton Proby Parkway. This closure is part of a traffic shift to a new lane alignment. The closure is expected to begin at 7 p.m. and last until 4:30 a.m. Traffic will detour onto U.S. 85/87. For more details on the detour route, refer to the CDOT website.Additionally, on South Academy Boulevard, there will be a planned closure of the northbound I-25 on-ramp from eastbound Academy. This closure will take place from Friday, December 6th at 7 p.m. until Saturday, December 7th at 1 p.m. Traffic will reroute by continuing east and exiting at U.S. 85/87, then turning around and traveling west on South Academy Boulevard to enter I-25. These closures on South Academy Boulevard will cause disruptions in traffic and require drivers to find alternative routes.

Vickers Lane Reconfiguration

This week, the city of Colorado Springs announced plans to reconfigure Vickers Drive between Academy and Union Boulevard starting from December 2nd. The formerly four-lane road will be reduced to 2 lanes, with a widened center turn lane and bike lanes separated from the roadway using buffers. City engineer Todd Frisbie explained that these changes are aimed at improving safety on a section of the road where there have been 28 broadside crashes and three bicycle crashes in the last decade. A broadside crash, also known as a T-bone crash, is often the most dangerous type of traffic accident. Changing the lane configuration elsewhere on roads has reduced broadside accidents by 30 to 50%, according to the release.The new configuration is expected to cut down on speeding while minimally affecting the overall drive time of the road. The expected traffic capacity of a two-lane road with a central turning lane is 15,000 vehicles per day, which is still well above the current load of Vickers Road, which is between 6,000 to 8,800 per day. "Our data shows that travel times will only see an increase of about 10 seconds, mostly due to drivers exceeding the speed limit no longer being able to pass slower vehicles," said Todd Frisbie. "Given the tradeoffs, we expect to see a reduction in accidents and better compliance with posted speed limits. This is a commonsense change that helps improve safety and makes it easier to travel along the road by widening the lanes."These transportation and construction updates in Colorado Springs will have a significant impact on local travel. It's crucial for drivers and commuters to stay informed and plan their routes accordingly to avoid delays and ensure safety on the roads.