COLORADO SPRINGS — Traffic will be temporarily shifted to the north side of W. Colorado Avenue from east of 32nd Street to 33rd Street from Monday, August 12 through Wednesday, August 14 to give room to crews working to connect a storm sewer line on the south side of street.
Once crews finish this utility work, they'll reduce the intersection of 32nd Street to two lanes to allow for paving and replacing the asphalt they removed.
The storm sewer line will help the area better prepare for flood events.
This is the final stretch of the Westside Avenue Action Plan, a project which started in January 2017.
The goal behind the project is to improve transportation and safety while making the area more pedestrian-friendly for businesses.
However, there have been delays along the way as crews had to deal with discarded items and natural events.
"We found, I think it was over a thousand tires in the creek that we had to overcome there," said engineer Brett Hartzell, who works for El Paso County.
"And just underground utilities that no one knew about. Flooding events."
The entrance to the Red Rock Canyon Shopping Center on the south side of W. Colorado Avenue at the 32nd Street intersection will be closed while the work is being performed, but you can still access it through the driveways located to the east of 32nd Street.
Flaggers will be present to direct motorists through the work area.
When it comes to the rest of the project, from U.S. 24 to the Manitou Springs welcome sign, traffic is in its final configuration with a dual left-turn lane located between the westbound and eastbound lanes of W. Colorado Avenue.
Drivers may encounter temporary traffic shifts and lane closures from the Manitou Springs welcome sign east to 31st Street, as crews complete water line installation, driveway paving, and curb and gutter work.
Crews finished all surface improvement along both sides of W. Colorado Avenue from west of the Manitou Springs welcome sign through the Manitou Springs project limits. Pedestrians can access sidewalks but should remember that this is an active construction site and be alert to ongoing construction activity.
Ridge Road Closure:
Ridge Road is permanently closed between W. Pikes Peak Avenue and W. Colorado Avenue.
Midland Trail Closure:
The Midland Trail is closed through Summer of 2019 from Becker’s Lane to Columbia Road for construction.
Crews will be working from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday unless otherwise specified.
