Black Forest Road Widening Project - Construction Update

Black Forest Road

Construction Update

March 16, 2023

Progress at Black Forest Road - Vollmer Road closure extended

The closure of Vollmer Road between Black Forest Road and Forest Meadows Avenue has been extended into early May due to numerous weather delays and unexpected challenges with underground utilities.

The road was expected to reopen at the end of March after essential underground utility work by Mountain View Electric and Colorado Springs Utilities, followed by reconstruction of the intersection by the Black Forest Road project team; however, underground utility conflicts

Southbound bridge over Cottonwood Creek nears completion; will see its first traffic later this Spring.

were more extensive than expected, and cycles of extreme cold and snow over the past several weeks have repeatedly delayed work.

“We apologize for the extended closure, but we’ve really been at the mercy of the weather the past month or so,” said Mike Chaves, engineering manager for the City of Colorado Springs.

Despite the delay, the project team has made significant progress at that location and throughout the project zone, with curb and gutter in place along large stretches of Black Forest Road, and the southbound bridge over Cottonwood Creek nearing completion.

A note for voters

The ballot dropbox at the Woodmen Park-n-Ride is accessible only via the Woodmen Road entrance during our construction.

Crews placed a 24-inch water line beneath the maze of utilities under Vollmer Road.

Vollmer Road Truck Routes and Detours

During the ongoing closure at Vollmer Road, from Black Forest Road to Forest Meadows Avenue, trucks that typically use Vollmer to access Black Forest Road will be required to detour on Vollmer to Cowpoke Road, east to Marksheffel Road, then south to westbound Woodmen Road to return to Black Forest Road.

This truck detour is necessary because Vollmer Road is an approved truck route, but Cowpoke Road west of Vollmer Road is not. The truck detour will be clearly marked by signs and trucks will be prohibited from using Cowpoke Road west to Black Forest Road.

Other Vollmer Road traffic:

Westbound Vollmer Road traffic may use Cowpoke Road west to Black Forest Road or east to Marksheffel Road, but are encouraged to use Marksheffel Road when possible to avoid delays at Black Forest Road. Forest Meadows Avenue will also be open east to Cowpoke Road as another alternative route.

All eastbound Vollmer Road truck traffic will be detoured south on Black Forest Road, east on Woodmen Road then north on Marksheffel Road to westbound Cowpoke Road where they can access Vollmer Road.

Other eastbound Vollmer Road traffic detours north on Black Forest Road to Cowpoke Road, then east to Vollmer Road.

Stay Informed

For more information and to sign up for ongoing Black Forest Road Construction Updates, call the project hotline at 800-887-4155 or visit: Coloradosprings.gov/BlackForestRd.

Email: BlackForestRoadWidening@gmail.com

Project Overview

The Black Forest Road project is widening the roadway to two lanes in each direction between Woodmen Road and Research Parkway. Funded through the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA) “A” List of projects, work is scheduled to be complete in late 2024, weather and resource dependent.

For project information or to sign up to receive construction updates via email, call 800-887-4155 or visit Coloradosprings.gov/BlackForestRd.

Project Overview Corridor Map

CLICK HERE to view enlarged map on project website.

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