July 23, 2008
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT UPDATE
New Southbound I-25 Off-Ramp to SH 16 TO Open Friday Morning
EL PASO COUNTY – At 9 p.m. tomorrow, July 24th, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will close the right lane of southbound I-25 as well as various lanes on State Highway (SH) 16 for ramp and detour work. By 5 a.m. Friday, CDOT will open the new ramp from southbound I-25 to SH 16 and close the existing ramp as part of the first phase of construction for the new I-25 and SH 16 interchange.
Once the new ramp is open, motorists traveling into Fort Carson will stay in the right lane on the ramp and will now have a continuous lane to Gate 20. Motorists going eastbound on SH 16 from southbound I-25 towards Fountain, will use the left lane on the new ramp and make a left turn at the new temporary signal at the intersection of I-25 and SH 16. The speed limit will be reduced to 25 MPH on SH 16 through the work zone.
Project hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., Sunday through Thursday. All work that impacts traffic on I-25 and/or SH 16 will be conducted during off-peak hours, primarily at night. Traffic impacts during the day will be minimal, with only minor stops anticipated (five minutes delays or less) for truck hauling and other operations.
CDOT would like to remind motorists to “Slow for the Cone Zone” and obey all construction signs and flaggers.
Phase One construction consists of new bridges over I-25, Fountain Creek and Crews Gulch, ramp reconstruction, including a new direct ramp connection from southbound I-25 into Fort Carson, widening SH 16 to four lanes between Fort Carson and Crews Gulch.
Sema Construction, Inc. of Centennial, CO is the contractor for the first phase of the project. The $22.6 million (phase one) project is scheduled for completion in spring 2009. Phase two is expected to begin in fall 2008 and completed in spring 2010.
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