Nearing the end of January, construction will pick back up on South Academy Boulevard projects, while city road upgrades are scheduled. Here are some of the projects that might affect commutes for the week of Jan. 19. South Academy Boulevard The second phase of Colorado Springs’ project to improve sections of South Academy started again this weekend, with overnight closures affecting the road from Astrozon Boulevard to Drennen Road. The next overnight closure scheduled is for the Hancock Expressway to Drennen Road section on Tuesday. Then, the Astrozon Blvd to Hancock Expressway section will again be closed overnight on Thursday. Finally, the full project corridor will be closed on Sunday overnight. The closures help crews get ready for the project, which will rebuild the roadway and fix drainage problems. The project is funded through a federal grant and Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority tax dollars. After Sunday night, the traffic pattern of the road will shift with lanes reduced: from Hancock to Drennen, traffic will move east, while from Hancock to Astrozon, traffic will move west. The slip ramps at Hancock and South Academy will also be closed starting Monday, Jan. 26. Also on South Academy, between Venetucci Boulevard and Milton Proby Parkway, drivers can expect to see alternating lane closures on South Academy from Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The closures will let crews install signage and perform finishing work on the roadway. Two lanes of traffic will remain open in both directions, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. Additional lane closures are scheduled for Thursday around Interstate 25, from 7 p.m. to 4 a.m. Construction is part of a widening project managed by El Paso County to improve 1.5 miles of South Academy’s south end. The project is set to be completed early this year. Marksheffel Road The major Northeast Colorado Springs artery will see some construction closures in the middle of this week, according to the city of Colorado Springs. Marksheffel Road will be closed overnight Wednesday and Thursday for drainage work, part of a larger project to improve the road, widen it to two lanes and add a center median and sidewalks. The closure will run from south of Tarren Heights to north of Stetson Hills Boulevard. Overnight closures will be on Wednesday and Thursday from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. The detour will direct drivers onto Peterson Road, Dublin Boulevard and Stetson Hills Boulevard. As a neighborhood Street, Tarren Heights won’t have a marked detour route. During the day on Friday, flaggers will alternate traffic through a single lane on Marksheffel from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. while crews lay asphalt over the drainage pipes installed earlier in the week. The city advises caution for drivers in the work zone. 8th Street A month-long construction project started Monday on 8th Street in downtown Colorado Springs with lane closures in both directions expected. The work will be done from U.S. Highway 24 to Motor City Drive. On Monday, crews closed the northbound lane at 9 a.m. for about 400 feet south of the Fountain Creek bridge to the eastbound Highway 24 frontage road. The project will rebuild sidewalks and driveways. Eastbound traffic from 8th Street is currently detoured one block north to US Highway 24, but once construction is done, the northbound turn lane to the eastbound Highway 24 frontage road will reopen. Shorter closures are also expected on southbound 8th Street from Highway 24 to Bear Creek so crews can relocate utilities. The city says access to businesses will remain “open and clearly visible” though slowdowns are expected during rush hours. ...read more read less