July 10, 2020 – El Paso County Department of Public Works will immediately begin interim improvements at the US Highway 24 and Fountain Avenue intersection near Cascade, Colorado. The improvements were discussed and designed with community input at a May 2018 Ute Pass Community meeting.
US 24 is a heavily traveled corridor and this intersection serves as the primary access to both Pikes Peak and the Ute Pass community. Additional improvements are envisioned for the area and will completed as funding allows. Funding for this County project is provided by the 2017 voter approved El Paso County Tabor Retention funds.
These interim improvements will reduce the backups on Fountain Avenue by adding signage and restriping the approach to US24 to provide for an additional lane and adding an island to ensure that right turns toward Colorado Springs are directed down Ute Pass Avenue prior to the signal at US24.
El Paso County, Colorado Department of Transportation, the City of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain, and the Colorado State Patrol are working collaboratively to increase safety and maximize strategies for better traffic flow along the Ute Pass corridor.
“We appreciate the community’s participation and patience to find an effective solution to the challenges of this intersection,” said District Commissioner Stan VanderWerf. “Coordinating the effort with CDOT’s repaving of US24 will minimize the impact of traffic congestion, reduce construction time, and deliver more improvements.”
The contractor for the project is Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. Milling of the existing asphalt is scheduled to start on July 9, 2020 and the project should be completed in either August or September of this year. The intersection will remain open to traffic although alternate routes are recommended.
Drivers must remember to reduce their speed and to watch for workers, equipment, signs and barricades.
Vicinity map provided below.
Stay up to date on the US 24 Ute Pass Projects by clicking HERE.
Project Information Line: (719) 628-8028
Email the project team: UtePassProjects@gmail.com