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July 11, 2011 Day-time operations to impact traffic at Woodmen & Academy.
Completion of the Woodmen Road project is just around the corner, but an additional significant traffic impact is needed to install the final asphalt paving. This work is scheduled to begin Sunday July 17th and last approximately five days. The project will be installing a special rubberized asphalt blend which requires warm temperatures, meaning the work has to occur during day time hours. Below is a summary of impacts that will be seen during this operation:
- Daytime lanes closures will exist on Woodmen Road. Periods of one-lane traffic in either direction on Woodmen Road may be used between 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- During rush hours (7 a.m.-9 a.m. and 3 p.m.-5 p.m.) a minimum of two lanes each direction will be open.
- Periodic periods will exist where business accesses along Woodmen Road are temporarily closed for short durations (approximately one hour) or only accessible as a right-in/right-out entrance:
- Entrances will be temporarily closed in preparation for asphalt paving, during the paving operation, and while the asphalt cools to a temperature suitable for traffic.
- Temporary closures are estimated to last for approximately one hour and then will reopen to their full intended traffic movements.
- Alternate means of access/exit will be necessary during these periodic closures.
- Some entrances may temporarily close to the left turn movements approximately six times.Periods will exist where turning movements to/from Woodmen Road and Academy Boulevard are temporarily closed.
- Each of the four ramps will be temporarily closed at different times in preparation for asphalt paving, during the paving operation, and while the asphalt cools to a temperature suitable for traffic.
- Temporary closures are estimated to last for approximately one hour and then will reopen to their full intended traffic movements.
- Alternate means of travel between Woodmen/Academy will be necessary during these periodic closures in the various directions.
- Full turning movements from each of the ramps will only close one time. To read full news release, click here.
June 14, 2011 Major Night Work Planned at Woodmen & Academy Major night work (8 p.m. through 6 a.m. ) will take place on the new Woodmen Road bridge from Sunday, June 19 through 6 a.m. on Friday, June 24 to complete the final epoxy overlay on the bridge. All traffic operations will be normal during day time hours and all business access points will remain open, including during night work.
April 6, 2011 TURNING MOVEMENTS REOPEN:
The Woodmen Road Corridor Improvement Project-Phase One will complete the 14-day turning closures on schedule. Beginning on Thursday, April 7th, 2011, at 8 p.m., the process of re-opening the closed turning movements will start. By early Friday morning, April 8th, this work will be completed and access from southbound Academy Blvd. to both directions of Woodmen Road; and both directions of Woodmen Road to northbound Academy Blvd. will open.
3-24-11
Please note the start date has changed to tomorrow,
March 25th starting at 8 p.m.
TURNING MOVEMENTS RESTRICTED:
Woodmen Road to Shift onto New Bridge
Beginning on Friday, March 25, 2011, at 8 p.m., the process of shifting Woodmen Road traffic onto the new bridge will begin. The actual start date for this work, being dependent on the 14-day weather forecast, was moved up one day to start based on the current weather forecast. The start of this traffic shift is particularly weather dependent. The project team made the decision to accelerate and begin on Friday night in lieu of Saturday to beat the storm forecasted for Sunday. The decision was made to accelerate to get the work completed now instead of potentially postponing the start for another week. Following the traffic shift, turning movements from southbound Academy Boulevard to either direction of Woodmen Road; and either direction of Woodmen Road to northbound Academy Boulevard will not be available for fourteen (14) days. The necessary turn restrictions are needed to complete ramp construction. Alternate routes are necessary for commuters to make the temporarily-closed turning movements, and the project team has provided a map below. It is anticipated that this process will be completed by April 8, with crews working around the clock.
3-23-11 TURNING MOVEMENTS RESTRICTED:
Woodmen Road to Shift onto New Bridge
Beginning on Saturday, March 26, 2011, at 8 p.m., the process of shifting Woodmen Road traffic onto the new bridge will begin. During this traffic shift and for fourteen days following, four turning movements will be closed. The necessary turn restrictions are needed to complete ramp construction. The traffic switch will occur in several steps. It is anticipated that sufficient ramp construction will be completed by April 9 to allow these turning movements to reopen although not fully in their final configuration. Construction crews will be working around the clock to complete this operation. The start of this traffic shift is particularly dependent on a favorable two week weather forecast. An unfavorable weather forecast can postpone the switch at the last minute. Key steps include: • Prior to the traffic switch, lane closures on Woodmen Road will be needed to facilitate temporary lane striping. • Woodmen Road traffic will be shifted onto the new bridge and the temporary traffic signal on Academy Boulevard will be removed. • With Woodmen Road traffic on the bridge, turns from Woodmen Road to northbound Academy Boulevard; and from southbound Academy Boulevard to Woodmen Road will not be available for 14-days. • Traffic signals on the bridge will control turning movements from Woodmen Road to southbound Academy Boulevard and from northbound Academy to Woodmen.
10-06-10 Beginning on Saturday, October 9 at 8 p.m., the process of shifting Academy Boulevard traffic into its permanent alignment from Shrider Road to York Road will start. This will place Academy Boulevard traffic under the newly constructed bridge. Multiple lane shifts will be employed during this time. It is anticipated that this process will be completed by Monday, October 11 at 6 a.m.
Academy Boulevard will be reduced to one lane on Sunday in each direction during this transition period to allow for new striping, signage, and completion of this major project milestone. Drivers are reminded to slow down (posted speed limit is 30 mph in this construction area), watch for signs along the new alignment, and exercise caution.
Read Media Release (.pdf file) Printable Traffic Map (.pdf file)
7-14-10 Academy Boulevard Excavation Begins.
Beginning at 8 p.m. on July 16, 2010, and continuing through July 30, 2010, construction of the final preparation and grading “fast-track” work will occur to install permanent asphalt on Academy Boulevard just north of York Road and the area just south of Shrider Road. Academy Boulevard is being repaved and lowered slightly in these areas to accommodate the transportation improvements being completed as part of the Woodmen Road Corridor Improvement Project.
6-21-10 Woodmen Road Bridge Girders Are Placed Beginning at 6:00 a.m. on June 22, 2010, and continuing through June 23, 2010, 22 girders will be delivered and put in place on the north half of the Woodmen Road Bridge over Academy Boulevard. This is the first of two planned girder placements, with the remaining 24 girders scheduled later this summer. This will be a daytime operation. Drivers should be aware of large trucks delivering the girders and, as always, use caution through the intersection.
5-24-10 Based on two-day traffic studies conducted in January and April 2010 in the Woodmen Road Corridor Improvement Project Phase One limits, almost 80% of the 123,000 cars per day exceeded the 30 mph construction zone speed limit.
In general, speeds have decreased over the past several months (see attached chart), but not to safe levels for a constrained construction site in an urban commercial area. Drivers should be aware that Colorado Springs Police Department has increased enforcement through the project area. Fines are doubled for speeding in any construction zone. For the safety of the construction crews, pedestrians and the traveling public, please reduce your speed.
5-20-10 Beginning on Sunday, May 23, 2010, at 7:00 a.m., the process of shifting Woodmen Road to the north from just west of the Sam"s Club (Olga Willson Way) to just east of the Home Depot entrance will start. Expect lane closures and shifts during the daytime hours. During this time, lanes will be moved around several times as crews work to pave and stripe the new temporary roadway. It is likely that cones will be used to designate driving lanes for a short time as the striping will be removed or changed. It is anticipated that this process will be completed by Sunday, May 23 at 6:00 p.m.
3-31-10 Prince Drive to Close and York Road to Open - On March 31, 2010, Prince Drive will permanently close at its intersection with Woodmen Road to allow completion of the sound wall for Yorkshire Estates. At the same time, York Road will be reopened at Earl Drive returning access to the Yorkshire neighborhood and Sunshine Learning Center from Academy Boulevard. These actions will return these streets back to where they were prior to the commencement of the Woodmen Road Corridor Improvement Project Phase 1, with no through traffic outlets to Woodmen Road from York Road. This event celebrates the successful completion of the installation of a 66-inch storm drain pipe and construction of a water quality vault under York Road and Earl Drive. In addition, the project added curbs, gutters, sidewalks, and new asphalt on York Road from Academy Boulevard to Earl Drive. These activities are weather and resource dependent.
3-18-10 Academy Boulevard to Shift West - Beginning on Saturday, March 20, 2010, at 7:00 p.m., the process of shifting Academy Boulevard to the west from just south of the Home Depot entrance to just north of York Road will start. Multiple lane shifts will be employed during this time. It is anticipated that this process will be completed by Monday, March 22 at 6:00 a.m. Academy Boulevard will be reduced to two lanes in each direction during this transition period. Drivers are reminded to slow down (posted speed limit is 30 mph in this construction area), watch for signs along the new alignment, and exercise caution. This work is dependent upon weather and resource availability.
2-10-10 On Feb. 5, 2010, the Woodmen Road Corridor Improvement Project Phase 1 achieved its first major milestone: the existing 42-inch water transmission line was successfully shut down to allow a new line to be installed and connected. The process required the project team to remove a section of existing water line at two locations and install a series of valves. The existing transmission line, over 40 years old, needed to be relocated before excavation can begin to lower Academy Boulevard. Beginning at 1 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 1, the project team, including Colorado Springs Utilities, worked around the clock to successfully complete the tie-in on Friday, February. 5.
12-22-09 Pedestrian route map for the Woodmen Road Corridor Project Phase 1. The routing for the Woodmen Commons and Woodmen Valley areas are tentatively in place with some final work pending and ready for pedestrian use.
11-4-09 Prince Drive Open to Local Traffic and York Road Closed at Earl Drive
10-26-09 Olga Willson Way Opens to Traffic
Fact sheets
Two lanes on Woodmen and three lanes on Academy will be open during peak traffic hours. All businesses are open for your patronage.
