USAFA graduation to heavily impact traffic for Presidential motorcade
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - Roads leading to and from the Air Force Academy graduation ceremony are anticipated to face heavy traffic Thursday morning and afternoon.
Immediately following the Air Force song, President Joe Biden is set to leave Falcon Stadium. As of 12:45 p.m., I-25 southbound is getting shut down to make way for his motorcade.
President Joe Biden was in Colorado Springs Thursday to give the commencement speech to the 2023 USAFA class.
The overlook at InterQuest Parkway, which provides a view of the Academy, will be closed during the Thunderbirds air show that's currently scheduled to happen between 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m.
Drivers are asked not to pull over on the shoulders of I-25, as indicated by flashing signs along the stretch between Monument and the Woodmen exit.
Stadium Boulevard and a portion of Academy Drive will be closed from 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Although the travel plan for the president to and from Falcon Stadium remains undisclosed, past presidential visits indicate that traffic backups are likely on I-25.
Commuters experienced delays on major roadways, including I-25. Before the graduation, northbound I-25 from MLK Bypass and the Academy exit to Falcon Stadium was blocked by the presidential motorcade from around 8 a.m. until nearly 9 a.m.
People were asked to leave early and account for potential delays due to the increased Air Force Academy traffic.
Southbound I-25 became blocked around 12:45 p.m. for the president to leave the ceremony.
