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Woodmen Road
Transportation Improvement Project |
Woodmen Road Update
(Updated October 27, 2005)
El Paso County and the City of Colorado Springs have identified Woodmen Road as one of the most important east-west corridors in the Pikes Peak region. Federal funds have been programmed for the Woodmen Corridor, from I-25 to US-24, over the next several years. The County and the City have been working cooperatively with the Colorado Department of Transportation over the past three years to prepare an environmental assessment of the Woodmen Corridor to study transportation improvements and to analyze impacts of various alternatives. The environmental assessment (EA) is nearing completion and is scheduled to be submitted to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for review in the fall of 2005. The EA document will be available to the public for review and a public hearing will soon be scheduled to receive input and public comment. Upon completion of the EA, FHWA will issue a decision on the EA document and whether to move forward with transportation improvements.
More information on the Woodmen Corridor EA is available on the following website: www.woodmenroad.com
While the environmental process is underway, El Paso County Department of Transportation has been moving forward with safety improvements to Woodmen Road within the limits of the County, from Powers Blvd to US-24. These safety improvements are being funded through a combination of federal funds and funding from El Paso County and the Woodmen Metropolitan District.
Safety Project A was completed in June 2003, and included the reconstruction of the Woodmen/Black Forest Road Intersection and a new Woodmen Frontage Road between Templeton Gap and Black Forest
Click here to see a pdf map of the Woodmen Road improvements between Powers and US-24.
Safety Project B was completed in June 2004 and included the construction of a new two-lane alignment of Woodmen Road between Marksheffel Road and Meridian Road . New signalized intersections were constructed at Marksheffel, Mohawk, Desert Sage and Meridian, and the old Woodmen Road has been converted to a frontage road to serve local access.
A question which is often asked is, “Why did the County choose to construct only two lanes for Woodmen Road – Why not construct four or more lanes?” The reason that additional lanes are not constructed at this time is related to the environmental assessment. Adding additional through traffic lanes along a highway corridor is considered to be a “capacity improvement.” Federal funding does not allow the addition of capacity improvements until after the completion of the environmental process, and only if the FHWA issues a Decision Document on the proposed action.
Additional federal and local funding is available for continued improvements for the Woodmen Corridor in El Paso County . Pending FHWA's decision on the EA document and a Finding of No Significant Impacts, the County will soon move forward with capacity improvements. Phase I capacity improvements will include the construction of a new 4-lane segment between Powers and Marksheffel Road . Phase II capacity improvements will include the completion of the 4-lane segment between Marksheffel and US-24. Other amenities include a new bridge crossing over Sand Creek and a new bike lane/trail corridor along the Woodmen Frontage Road. A summary of the anticipated project phasing is as follows:
Woodmen Road Improvements
|
Project |
Description |
Construction Schedule |
| Safety Project A |
Black Forest Intersection, Relocation of Templeton Gap Road |
Completed June 2003 |
| Safety Project B |
2-Lane Reconstruction, Marksheffel to Meridian |
Completed June 2004 |
| *Phase I Capacity Project |
4-Lane Reconstruction, Powers to Marksheffel |
Scheduled 2006 |
| *Phase II Capacity Project |
Completion of 4-Lanes, Marksheffel to US-24 |
Scheduled 2007 |
| *If funding is available in 2006, Phase I and II Capacity Projects may be constructed under a single construction project. |
For more information on the Woodmen Road Corridor Improvements, contact:
