Explaining challenges of emergency responses in I-25 construction zone between Colorado Springs, Fountain

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- An eight-mile corridor narrowed by a construction project, with heavy traffic and affected by ice and snow, combine to make emergency responses by public safety crews especially challenging.

The current project along Interstate 25 between South Academy Boulevard in Colorado Springs and Santa Fe Avenue in Fountain is replacing asphalt pavement with concrete pavement.

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has created several pull-over areas that drivers can use in emergencies, but crashes can still back-up traffic for miles and slow the response time for first responders.

"I'd guess there have been hundreds of crashes, minor and serious," said Master Sgt. Rick Hoffman, of the Colorado State Patrol. "It is very difficult to get somewhere. But SEMA Construction (project contractor), they do have emergency pull-outs and turn-offs in place for that purpose. They're spread a couple of miles apart, but it does help us get to those crashes a lot sooner. SEMA crews have helped us occasionally by using one of their forklifts to move a concrete barrier so that we can have a damaged vehicle towed away. But if it's not close by, we have to wait."

CDOT spokesperson Amber Shipley said that the agency meets biweekly with first responders to keep them aware of construction changes.

"We have met with them throughout the project to ensure that they know of lane closures, lane shifts, access points, all those good things that they do need to know in the event of an emergency response needed," she said.

An early Christmas present for first responders and drivers: Shipley said that the concrete application is nearly finished, and next month the concrete barriers will be removed as the northbound traffic lanes will return to their final configuration.

"Drivers will then be able to enjoy the wider road shoulders that we added," she said.

Finally, Shipley said that it's unclear whether the temporary pull-over areas will remain.