I-25 widening starts between Fillmore, Garden of Gods

Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Sep 14, 2005 by PERRY SWANSON THE GAZETTE

Road crews today will start putting down pavement to widen Interstate 25 between Fillmore Street and Garden of the Gods Road.

The work is part of the Colorado Springs Metro Interstate Expansion, or COSMIX, which will widen the highway to six lanes and rebuild several intersections from North Academy Boulevard to Bijou Street.

The first paving should be done by early October, but drivers won't be able to use it until spring, said project spokesman Bill Badger. Officials first want to complete widening work north of Garden of the Gods to about Rockrimmon Boulevard, Badger said.

Crews have completed widening the Ellston Street bridge, which is about halfway between Fillmore and Garden of the Gods.

Also today, crews will start pouring the foundation of a noise wall next to the Holland Park neighborhood, a project that is scheduled to be done by the end of October.

Starting next week, traffic will be shifted to the southbound side of I-25 over the bridge so workers can rebuild the old part of the bridge on the northbound side. The traffic configuration will switch after that work is done, in a couple of weeks, and cars will drive on the northbound side while crews work on the southbound side, Badger said.

The project schedule calls for finishing the bridge by the end of October.

Long-term transportation plans call for replacement of the 40- yearold Ellston Street bridge.

The Colorado Department of Transportation doesn't have the money for that project now, so officials are checking the bridge's condition and making repairs to make sure it lasts longer.