Earlier today, U.S. Senator Cory Gardner and Congressman Doug Lamborn announced that El Paso County will receive an $18.4 million grant to improve critical infrastructure around the military installations in the Colorado Springs area.
“I am pleased to see such great collaboration by all the partner agencies that made this happen,” said El Paso County Commissioner Longinos Gonzalez. “These are much needed improvements that will not only benefit the military but our entire community.”
The federal grant, also known as the BUILD Grant, is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation. El Paso County, along with Colorado Department of Transportation applied for the grant earlier this year.
The money from the grant will fund road projects that improve safety and mobility along critical access points and heavy truck routes between military installations. These improvements are strategically vital to the movement of military personal and equipment while reducing traffic congestion and travel time for citizens.
“This is critical funding that invests in the quality and effectiveness of our roads while impacting the safety of our community, said Scot Cuthbertson, Executive Director at El Paso County Department of Public Works.
The Board of El Paso County Commissioners would like to thank State Senator Pete Lee, State Representative Dave Williams, State Representative Lois Landgraf, U.S. Army Installation Management Command, CDOT, Pueblo County Board of County Commissioners, the Central Front Range Transportation Planning Region, PPRTA, Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG),Central Front Range (CFR) Transportation Planning Region, Pueblo Area Council of Governments, Colorado State Patrol, Colorado Springs Chamber and Economic Development Corporation Military Affairs Council, and the municipalities of Colorado Springs, Fountain and Pueblo for their support.