Local Leaders Break Ground on I-25 & Cimarron Project

Wednesday’s groundbreaking ceremony for a long-awaited infrastructure project in Colorado Springs brought relief, a sense of accomplishment — even a song.

The ceremony for the Interstate 25 at Cimarron Street interchange project was held at nearby America the Beautiful Park.

Musicians from the Colorado Springs performed a special song for the event — “Feeling Fine on I-25” — that was a hit with the audience.

The project has long been one of the area’s highest-priority infrastructure needs, designed to ease traffic congestion and improve safety for drivers heading east to downtown or west to Manitou Springs and beyond.

According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, parts of the current interchange date to 1959.

The project will straighten a sharp curve on the Interstate, build two new bridges, improve trails around the interchange and create a new intersection at 8th and Cimarron streets.

More than a dozen businesses at the intersection apparently won’t have to move or relocate because of the project.

CDOT said drivers won’t see traffic impacts until next spring.