Widening of Woodmen could take up to 3 years

You wanted it. You’re going to get it. But are you ready . . . really?

In a few short months, work will begin on widening Woodmen Road from four to six lanes from Interstate 25 to just west of Academy Boulevard and constructing a massive over-under interchange at Woodmen and Academy.

The intersection is one of the busiest in town, and navigating it during rush hours has long been painful. That’s surely why voters, in part, approved a 1 percent sales and use tax in 2004 for transportation projects.

Still, checking the “yes” box on a ballot is one thing. Actually living through the construction of the project — which could take up to three years — is quite another.

The project is the first in a series of phased work that will improve Woodmen Road from I-25 to U.S. Highway 24 east. Next year’s road widening and interchange construction is the highlight of the city’s portion of the 2008 Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority budget.

The budget will go to the PPRTA board on Nov. 15 and Dec. 12.

The 2008 work on Woodmen and the intersection will consume $8.1 million of the $26 million the city expects to get for capital projects from the PPRTA tax in 2008.

The city actually will spend more next year on the first phase of the extension of the Milton Proby Parkway (the old Drennan Road), about $16.1 million. But construction on that project won’t start until 2010. Arguably, even then, it won’t have nearly the impact on motorists as work on the Woodmen corridor.

The second phase of the Woodmen project, extending Woodmen to six lanes from Bell Road just west of Academy to Powers Boulevard, will begin in 2011. All told, the city and PPRTA will spend $60 million on five miles of Woodmen Road.

That doesn’t include El Paso County’s future spending on improvements of Woodmen to Highway 24, a stretch of six miles, nor the $26 million the Colorado Department of Transportation and the feds are spending to construct the interchange at Woodmen and Powers Boulevard. That interchange is expected to be completed by mid-2009.

To learn more about the Woodmen Road improvements, including the various phases of the project, visit: www.woodmenroad.com. To learn more about the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority, visit: www.pprta.com/

Dabling, Rockrimmon work

As one project starts, another ends . . .

This weekend, crews will close the intersection at Mark Dabling and Rockrimmon boulevards for 17 days to complete the reconstruction of the intersection and the frontage road connection. It is the last major work on the two-year COSMIX project to widen Interstate 25 through Colorado Springs.

The closure will begin Sunday at midnight and continue through Nov. 1. During that time, crews will complete utility, drainage, retaining wall, paving, and curb and gutter work.

There will be a number of marked detours for motorists.

Union, Austin Bluffs project

Expect disruptions today at another major project, this one at Union Boulevard and Austin Bluffs Parkway.

Closures from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.:

- right lane on southbound Union Boulevard

- left lane and left turn lanes on northbound Union Boulevard

- right lane on westbound Austin Bluffs.

Tell me your commuter tales: 636-0197 or bill.mckeown@gazette.com.