July 17, 2023

Progress!

Relief from the heavy rains of May and June have let the Black Forest Road project team make significant progress in recent weeks. Curb, gutter, and sidewalks are going in place throughout the project zone, the new southbound bridge over Cottonwood Creek is nearly ready for traffic, and work at the intersection of Black Forest Road and Cowpoke Road continues on schedule for opening by the end of July.

Aerial view of new sidewalk and pedestrian ramps installed on

the west side of Black Forest Road adjacent to the Park ‘n Ride lot

Be Safe at Vollmer Road!

Safety alert! Motorists at the intersection of Black Forest Road and Vollmer Road are currently encountering long lines to turn left from Vollmer Road to southbound Black Forest Road. While the signal timing has been adjusted to clear as many vehicles as possible, there will be delays at times as construction progresses.

To avoid delays, project crews are seeing many motorists turn north onto Black Forest Road, then make immediate U-turns in the roadway to avoid the signal and head southbound. These U-turns are unsafe and endanger not only motorists, but also our crews working in the area. We urge motorists to be patient, know that the signal timing has been adjusted to move traffic through the intersection, and current traffic volumes are temporary while Cowpoke Road is closed.

We appreciate your patience and caution.

No Trucks on Cowpoke Road

We’ve received multiple complaints in recent weeks about trucks using Cowpoke Road, which is not an authorized truck route. The City of Colorado Springs will install additional “Truck Route” signs in the area in the near future to guide truck drivers to approved trucking routes. 

Cowpoke Detour

During the closure of east Cowpoke Road, westbound traffic headed toward Black Forest Road will be detoured south on Vollmer Road to Black Forest Road. Eastbound Cowpoke Road traffic will be detoured south on Black Forest Road to Vollmer Road, then north to Cowpoke Road.

Detours on Cowpoke Road

Copper Point Peak remains closed

Work continues in and around Copper Peak Point, the access road between Black Forest Road and the Copper Range Apartments. That access will remain closed indefinitely for the safety of the traveling public and construction team.

Stay Informed

The project is widening the roadway to two lanes in each direction between Woodmen Road and Research Parkway. Funded through the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA) “A” List of projects, work is scheduled to be complete in late 2024.  

For project information or to sign up to receive construction updates via email, call 800-887-4155 or visit Coloradosprings.gov/BlackForestRd.