**ADVISORY**
Austin Bluffs Interchange at Union Boulevard Traffic and Neighborhood Access Impacts
June 27 - July 5, 2008
On July 2, overnight lane closures will be necessary to accommodate the first
phase of the deck pour on the Austin Bluffs overpass. This construction activity
will be executed in two sections, requiring two nights of work. The remainder
of the deck will be poured after the first half has cured, in about two weeks.
Please pay close attention to the e-mail alerts and/or project hotline for
more details regarding the second pour.
Drivers should expect detours and delays, and use alternate routes when possible.
Crews will not work over Independence Day to ease traffic congestion for the traveling public.
Details of traffic impacts and lane closures for:
Wednesday, July 2, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Union Boulevard Lane Closures
- Alternating right and left lanes on Union Boulevard, beneath the overpass, will be closed to accommodate overhead bridgework.
Austin Bluffs Parkway Lane Closures
- The left lanes on both eastbound and westbound Austin Bluffs Parkway,
near the overpass, will be closed to accommodate construction activity relating
to the deck pour.
Click here to view the New Traffic Configuration
Continuing Impacts
AUSTIN BLUFFS PARKWAY IMPACTS
- The right turn lane from eastbound Austin Bluffs Parkway to southbound Cragwood Drive is closed permanently. A cul-de-sac is being constructed at Cragwood Drive and Austin Bluffs Parkway as part of the final configuration.
- Left turns to and from Austin Bluffs Parkway via Cragwood Drive have been eliminated in order to shift traffic on east and westbound Austin Bluffs Parkway into the median area. The left turns are closed permanently as part of the final design configuration.
- Meadow Lane at the entrance to UCCS was closed May 14 to begin construction of the frontage road at the campus. As part of this closure, access to Cragmor Village Road from the UCCS campus is closed. The Cragmor Village neighborhood can be accessed via Austin Bluffs Parkway to Cragmor Village Road. Meadow lane is anticipated to re-open in August.
UNION BOULEVARD IMPACTS
- The right turn lane from northbound Union Boulevard to eastbound Austin Bluffs Parkway is closed to accommodate retaining wall construction until Austin Bluffs traffic is switched onto the new ramps (tentatively October 2007). Right turns onto Austin Bluffs Parkway from northbound Union Boulevard are still allowed using a temporary right turn lane.
- The right lane on northbound Union Boulevard is closed for 1,000 feet north of Austin Bluffs Parkway to accommodate utility work and bridge construction through September 2007.
- The right lane on southbound Union Boulevard is closed from Damon Drive south to Austin Bluffs Parkway to accommodate utility work, sound wall and bridge construction through September 2007. Right turns onto Austin Bluffs Parkway from southbound Union Boulevard are still allowed.
Pedestrian and Trail Impacts – Detours are posted when in place
- The pedestrian tunnel crossing under Union Boulevard is closed to accommodate construction.
- Pedestrians traveling southbound on Union Boulevard are detoured south of Damon Drive to Palm Drive to access Cragwood Drive and Austin Bluffs Parkway.
- Pedestrians traveling east and westbound on Austin Bluffs Parkway between Meadow Lane and Union Boulevard are detoured onto a temporary walk way.
- Templeton Gap Trail users are being detoured onto Templeton Gap Road between Palmer Park and Union Boulevard.
- For their own safety, pedestrians are encouraged to stay on the detour to avoid construction work areas.
Westbound Austin Bluffs Parkway Left Turns onto Southbound Union Boulevard
PERMANENT CLOSURE
- The left turn lanes from westbound Austin Bluffs Parkway onto southbound Union Boulevard will be reduced to one lane. (There are currently two left turn lanes onto Union Boulevard).
- Commuters should expect significant delays during peak traffic times and use alternates routes.
Northbound Union Boulevard Right Turn Lane Closure
PERMANENT CLOSURE
- The existing right turn lane from northbound Union Boulevard to eastbound Austin Bluffs Parkway will be closed to accommodate retaining wall construction.
- Right turns onto Austin Bluffs Parkway from northbound Union Boulevard will still be allowed from a new temporary right turn lane.
Eastbound Austin Bluffs Parkway Right Turn Closure at Cragwood Drive
PERMANENT CLOSURE
- The right turn lane from eastbound Austin Bluffs Parkway to southbound Cragwood Drive will be closed permanently to accommodate utility work, sound wall and cul-de-sac construction.
- Right-turns onto Cragwood Drive will NOT be allowed.
- A cul-de-sac will be constructed as part of the final configuration at Cragwood Drive and Austin Bluffs Parkway.
- The Cragmor Neighborhood can be accessed via Acacia Drive from Union Boulevard and via Meadow Lane from Austin Bluffs Parkway.
North and Southbound Cragwood Drive Left Turns onto Austin Bluffs Parkway
PERMANENT CLOSURE
- Left turns from north and southbound Cragwood Drive to Austin Bluffs Parkway will not be allowed.
- The left turns are being eliminated in order to shift traffic on east and westbound Austin Bluffs Parkway into the median area.
- The left turns will be closed permanently as part of the final design configuration.
East and Westbound Austin Bluffs Parkway Left Turns onto Cragwood Drive
PERMANENT CLOSURE
- Left turns from east and westbound Austin Bluffs Parkway onto Cragwood Drive will not be allowed.
- The left turns are being eliminated in order to shift traffic on east and westbound Austin Bluffs Parkway into the median area.
- The left turns will be closed permanently as part of the final design configuration.
Northbound Union Boulevard Right Lane Closure
January 29 through September 2007
- The right lane on northbound Union Boulevard will be closed for 1,000 feet north of Austin Bluffs Parkway to accommodate tree transplanting, utility work and bridge construction.
Southbound Union Boulevard Right Lane Closure
January 29 through September 2007
- The right lane on southbound Union Boulevard will be closed from Damon Drive south to Austin Bluffs Parkway to accommodate tree transplanting, utility work, sound wall and bridge construction.
- Right turns onto Austin Bluffs Parkway from southbound Union Boulevard will still be allowed.
Pedestrian and Trail Impacts
Pedestrian Tunnel under Union Boulevard Closed
Starting Friday, March 23, 2007
- The pedestrian tunnel crossing under Union Boulevard is closed to accommodate construction.
- Detours are posted.
Templeton Gap Trail Under Austin Bluffs Parkway Detour
February 2, 2007 through October 2008
- The Templeton Gap Trail under Austin Bluffs Parkway will be closed to accommodate utility work and bridge construction.
- Trail detours will be posted. Trails users should cross Union Boulevard on the south side of the intersection and Austin Bluffs on the west side.
Pedestrian Detour for Southbound Union Boulevard
Starting Monday, February 26, 2007
- Pedestrians traveling southbound on Union Boulevard will be detoured south of Damon Drive to Palm Drive to access Cragwood Drive and Austin Bluffs Parkway.
- Detours will be posted.
East and Westbound Austin Bluffs Pedestrian Detour
Starting Friday, March 09, 2007
- Pedestrians traveling east and westbound on Austin Bluffs Parkway between Meadow Lane and Union Boulevard will be detoured onto a temporary walk way.
- Detour signs will be posted.
- For their own safety, pedestrians are encouraged to stay on the detour to avoid construction work areas.
Overview of Neighborhood Access Impacts
Cragmor Village Neighborhood
- Access to Cragmor Village Road via Meadow Lane and the UCCS campus was closed May 14. Residents should use the entrance to Cragmor Village Road from Austin Bluffs Parkway. Access via Meadow Lane and the new frontage road is anticipated to re-open in August.
University Park, Campus Commons and Red Deer Neighborhoods
- Left turns from eastbound Austin Bluffs Parkway to northbound Cragwood Drive were eliminated permanently on Feb. 12.
- As part of the final configuration, access to Cragwood Drive from Austin Bluffs Parkway will be eliminated and replaced with new access as follows:
- Traffic heading west on Austin Bluffs Parkway will turn right on Cragmor Village Road to reach the new frontage road that will be constructed.
- Traffic heading east on Austin Bluffs Parkway will turn left on Meadow Lane to reach the new frontage road that will be constructed.
- Until the new access opens (tentative early fall 2007), northbound Cragwood Drive can only be accessed as a right hand turn from westbound Austin Bluffs Parkway.
Cragmor Neighborhood
- A cul-de-sac will be constructed as part of the final configuration at south Cragwood Drive and Austin Bluffs Parkway.
- Turns on to Cragwood Drive from Austin Bluffs Parkway, both westbound and eastbound, have been eliminated permanently.
- Access to Austin Bluffs Parkway via south Cragwood Drive will be eliminated permanently starting Monday, February 26. (Right turns from Cragwood Drive to eastbound Austin Bluffs Parkway will be allowed until Monday, February 26, but left turns onto westbound Austin Bluffs Parkway were eliminated Monday, February 12, 2007.)
- The Cragmor Neighborhood can be accessed via Acacia Drive from Union Boulevard and via Meadow Lane from Austin Bluffs Parkway.
All construction impacts and closures are weather and resource dependent.
For information or questions on construction impacts, please call the project hotline at (719) 598-2605 or email abpunion@praco.com. Media wishing to arrange interviews should call Mary Scott or Carrie McCausland with City Public Communications at (719) 385-5906.
The Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority was formed when voters in Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Green Mountain Falls and El Paso County approved a one percent sales tax in November of 2004 to address infrastructure and transit needs in the region. The tax revenue is divided into three categories: 55% capital improvements, 35% maintenance, and 10% transit. The capital portion of the tax will sunset in 10 years.
