Construction to shut down Fillmore this weekend

An already unpopular construction project at I-25 and Fillmore is about to become even moreso.

The laying down of asphault, along with other smaller improvements, will require the closure of Fillmore as well as the ramps leading to and from the interstate.

The closures are scheduled begin at 8pm Friday and continue until 5am Monday.

CDOT calls it a “diverging diamond interchange“, the third of its kind in the state and the first of its kind in Colorado Springs.

So far, it hasn’t gotten great reviews from drivers.

“Quite confusing,” says Robin Lawrentz who uses the route occasionally.

“At night, I feel like if you don’t know it, it’s more hazardous than it’s doing good, honestly. It was fine the way it was,” added Russell Nelson, who lives just around the corner.

So far, CDOT has received only 12 formal complaints about the interchange and only one reported accident, but Communications Manager Michelle Peulen said the wreck was due to a driver not paying attention and rear ending a vehicle in front of them, not the new traffic pattern.

CDOT believes the new setup is safer because drivers exiting I-25 no longer have to go through cross traffic.

Instead, they simply merge into traffic going the same direction as they are, eliminating the possibility of a “T-bone” style collision.

To avoid the Fillmore bridge, drivers are advised to use Garden of the Gods to the north or Fontenaro to the south, which amounts to about a 10 minute detour.

“That’s inconvenient,” said Nelson.

“I’ll be in Atlanta, but I feel bad for the people that have to deal with it,” said Bob Demoss.

“It sounds like a tough detour,” added Lawrentz.

According to CDOT, workers will be at the site 24 hours a day beginning Friday evening, and the asphault will be laid down rain or shine.

Drivers can expect plenty of detour signs in the area to guide them around the interchange.