Delay announced in first in a series of lane closures scheduled Monday on Austin Bluffs Parkway in Colorado Springs
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — UPDATE: Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) announced early Monday afternoon that this project is now delayed.
In a statement released just before 2 p.m. Monday, CSU said that lane closures on two of three westbound lanes of Austin Bluffs Parkway between Goldenrod Drive and the exit ramp to Union Boulevard will be delayed "until additional preparation and inspection work can be completed."
CSU explained that the delay helps ensure the lanes won't close until absolutely necessary.
Instead of starting an initial two-week closure on Monday and ending two more closures by the end of March, CSU has changed the schedule to start the first phase later this month and complete the final two phases by the end of May.
(PREVIOUS STORY FROM MONDAY MORNING)
Reliving the same day is the theme of the movie Groundhog Day, and many drivers may feel the same way later this month.
For the second time in 18 months, utility work will restrict traffic on a 2/3-mile stretch of Austin Bluffs Parkway between Goldenrod Drive and the exit ramp to Union Boulevard.
Two of the three westbound lanes will close to relocate underground electric lines.
Drivers should be aware of increased traffic congestion and occasional backups, and consider detouring around the area if possible.
It's part of an ongoing project by Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) to build the new Central Bluffs power substation on the north side of the Austin Bluffs/Goldenrod intersection.
Construction on that project began in August 2024, when crews closed the right westbound lane in the same area to relocate an above-ground natural gas line.
That work ended in late April of last year.
There have also been occasional eastbound lane closures related to the overall project.
CSU said that the latest westbound closures will be the first of three similar closures in the area over the next few months.
The new substation is scheduled for completion by the end of this year.
CSU also seeks citizens' suggestions on choosing a design for the substation's outer wall. For more information, visit: https://www.csu.org/current-projects/central-bluffs-substation.
