Second Phase of South Academy Boulevard Construction Set to Begin in Colorado Springs

The City of Colorado Springs is preparing to move forward with the next stage of a major infrastructure project along South Academy Boulevard, a heavily traveled corridor that sees about 40,000 vehicles daily.

The second phase of the multi-year project will begin in early October and cover the stretch between Jet Wing Drive and East Fountain Boulevard. The first phase, which improved the section between Bijou Street and Airport Road, was completed last year.

“Construction’s going to be beginning in October and anticipated to last to spring of 2028. During this construction, it’s going to be very strategically put together in four phases starting from the south, working our way north,” explained Gayle Sturdivant, City Engineer and Deputy Director of Public Works.

Managing Traffic and Business Access

The city plans to divide the work into smaller chunks to minimize the impact on travelers and local businesses.

“Have that patience. You know, in the end, we’re hoping to have a much better product to enjoy in the future,” said Sturdivant, who noted that lessons learned from the first phase helped inform the approach this time.

Businesses along the corridor will maintain at least one accessible entrance from Academy Boulevard or nearby side streets throughout the project.

“We encourage folks to continue to frequent those businesses and connect your business with them, and be mindful of construction and just be patient as we get through and do this important investment in the southeast portion of Colorado Springs,” Sturdivant added.

To keep vehicles moving, two lanes of traffic in each direction will remain open during peak hours.

Funded by Voter-Approved Initiative

The work is funded through the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA), a voter-supported program that directs money to priority transportation projects in the region.

“This is funded by PPRTA. We always want to thank the voters for their support of the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority and the named projects on there, and this is one of the named projects. So we’re excited to be able to get that completed and fulfill our commitment to the voters,” said Sturdivant.

Improvements Ahead

The construction will address long-standing infrastructure concerns. Crews will replace deteriorating pavement, repair curbs and gutters, and upgrade the drainage system to better handle storm events.

“If you’ve been out there, you know that the pavement is in really poor condition. We also get a lot of localized flooding when we have storm events, so it doesn’t drain well. It’s just a really rough ride,” Sturdivant said.

Community Engagement

To keep residents informed, the city will hold an open house on Sept. 9 from 5–7 p.m. at the Pikes Peak United Way Family Success Center. The session will provide details on construction phasing, traffic plans, and opportunities for public feedback.

The city views the South Academy Boulevard project as not only an investment in infrastructure but also a commitment to improving safety, access, and quality of life in southeast Colorado Springs.

Originally reported by Erin Bowling.