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Interchange projects instigating major changes at Cimarron, Fillmore


ABOVE: A worker installs a soil nail wall to secure the bank along the west side of I-25 between Colorado Avenue and Highway 24, preparatory to fill dirt being brought in for the new southbound off-ramp to be built through that area as part of the Cimarron/I-25 interchange project. BELOW: During overnight work in September at the Fillmore/I-25 interchange, a heavy excavator with a hydraulic breaker attachment slams a girder and cross-member on the portion of the old bridge that was being demolished. Meanwhile, state and contracted workers watch from the lengthwise portion of the bridge, which is being retained to handle traffic for the time being. Note the straight saw cut below the bridge's concrete barrier, which allowed the to-be-demolished portion to be pulled away without damaging the retained segment. Photo looks west.
Westside Pioneer photos


       Walls are being built at Cimarron/I-25, while at Fillmore/I-25 another bridge is on the way.
       The simultaneous interchange projects remain on schedule, with mostly minimal impacts on traffic.
  • Scheduled exceptions are these overnight closures:
  • Nov. 14, when the interstate is closed in both directions between Cimarron Street and South Nevada Avenue. The work is needed to allow Colorado Springs Utilities to relocate overhead power lines.
  • Nov. 30 - a full closure of both I-25 and Fillmore Street to allow the placement of girders for the new north bridge at the interchange. Through traffic on the interstate can continue by using the off-/on-ramps.
  • Mid-December (date undetermined at press time) - another full closure of the interstate and Fillmore Street, this time to pour the north bridge's deck.
           The Cimarron walls - technically called “soil nail walls” - will fortify the steep dirt banks on the west side of the existing interstate in conjunction with fill dirt being brought in to shape the new southbound off-ramp in that area. According to Lesley Mace of the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), this operation is likely to continue into January.
           Other work at Cimarron over the next few months will include widening Fountain Creek to approximately 80 feet (similar to its channel between 8th and 21st streets), completing the Bear Creek Trail culvert under I-25 and beginning construction of the Highway 24 eastbound bridge over upper Fountain Creek.
           At Fillmore, traffic is currently using both the new south bridge (for eastbound cars) and a slimmer version of the original (roughly 1960) bridge (westbound). Using a combination of saws and heavy equipment, roughly half of the '60 span (lengthwise) was cut away in September to make room for the new north bridge. When it opens (possibly not till spring), the remainder of the old bridge will be demolished, according to Ted Tjerandsen of CDOT.
           The Cimarron interchange is due for completion by December 2017, Fillmore by the summer of 2016.

    Westside Pioneer article