Stuck on Academy Boulevard in Colorado Springs? Here's What Helps

If your car quits on Academy Boulevard in Colorado Springs, turn into the nearest side street or parking lot if it still rolls. If it won't move, turn on your hazards and stay buckled in. Note your direction and the last cross street you passed. On South Academy, watch for 2026 work zones with shifted lanes. If anyone is hurt or you're stuck in a live lane, call 911 first.

Why is Academy Boulevard a tricky place to break down?

Academy is a long, wide city street. It once carried State Highway 83 through the center of the city. North of Pikes Peak Avenue it becomes North Academy. South of there, it's South Academy, which heads down toward I-25 and Fort Carson.

That length is the problem. "I'm on Academy" could mean a dozen different places. Much of it has several lanes each way and lots of turning cars. A stalled car in the middle lane is hard to see and hard to reach.

If your car is still rolling, look for a side street or a parking lot. Either one beats stopping in the curb lane.

What should I do first when my car dies on Academy?

• If the car still moves, turn right into a lot or onto a side street. A lot is safer than any shoulder.
• If it stops dead in a lane, turn on your hazards. Stay in your seat with your belt on.
• Don't walk across Academy to reach a store. Too many lanes, too many turning cars.
• If you smell smoke or see flames, get out on the side away from traffic and move well back.
• If anyone is hurt, or your car is stuck in a live lane where you feel unsafe, call 911 first.

Colorado's move-over law, C.R.S. 42-4-705, covers a stopped car with its hazard lights on. Passing drivers must move over a lane when they can, or slow down. Your hazards are what trigger that rule, so turn them on right away.

What's going on with South Academy construction in 2026?

Two big projects are rebuilding the south end of Academy at the same time. Both change where you can safely stop.

The city's South Academy rebuild

The City of Colorado Springs is rebuilding South Academy. The city says this is the first major rebuild since the road opened in 1969. The north part, from Bijou Street to Airport Road, was finished in late 2024. Work on the south part, from East Fountain Boulevard to Jet Wing Drive, started in early 2026.

Right now, crews are busy near Hancock Expressway. Lanes between Hancock Expressway and Drennan Road were closed on October 2 and 3 to set up a new traffic pattern. After that, both directions shift west. Northbound drivers move into the inside center lanes. Southbound drivers move into the west outside lanes.

Shifted lanes mean the curb you expect may be a concrete barrier instead. If your car quits there, don't try to squeeze out between barrels. Stay put with your hazards on and tell us you're in the work zone. The city sends project updates by text if you text SABImpacts to 844-289-1002.

CDOT's widening near I-25

Farther south, about a mile and a half of South Academy is being widened from two lanes to three in each direction. It runs from the I-25 interchange, across US 85/87, to the approach to Milton E. Proby Parkway. El Paso County manages it, and CDOT posts the updates. The plan adds wider shoulders, new merge lanes and bridgework.

It was due to wrap up in early 2026, but CDOT still listed night lane closures in July 2026. One closed southbound South Academy between Bradley Road and I-25 overnight for sign work. Check COtrip before you drive this stretch at night.

How do I tell my driver where I am on Academy?

Your driver can't find "Academy, near the shopping center." Give these instead:

1. Your direction: northbound or southbound.
2. The last cross street you passed and the next one ahead, like Airport Road and Hancock Expressway.
3. Your lane: curb lane, middle lane, left turn lane or median.
4. Whether you're inside a work zone or near barrels.
5. A pin from your phone's map app, sent by text when we ask.

Store and business names help too, but only as extras. Cross streets are what a driver can find in the dark.

What if I break down near Fort Carson?

South Academy leads toward Fort Carson. The Army lists Gate 4, the Bellrichard Gate, on Barkeley Avenue south of Academy Boulevard. It isn't open all the time:

Fort Carson gate	When it's open
Gate 4 (Bellrichard), Barkeley Ave south of Academy	Weekdays 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. both ways; 1 to 9 p.m. outbound only. Closed weekends and federal holidays.
Gate 20 (Roosevelt), Magrath Ave west of I-25	24 hours, every day
Gate 1 (Freedom), Nelson Boulevard	24 hours, every day

If your car dies on post, ask the gate how an outside tow truck gets in. Visitors without a military ID need a pass, and the Visitor Control Center is at 719-526-2332. Often the simplest plan is a tow from the nearest public street outside the gate.

Headed north to the Air Force Academy instead? Its South Gate is at I-25 Exit 150. Visitors without a REAL ID go through the Pass and Registration Office outside that gate. It's open weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the number is (719) 333-0441.

Which roadside fix do I need on Academy?

Many Academy calls don't need a tow at all. Tell us what happened and we'll match the job:

• Car clicks and won't crank in a store lot. Ask for a jump start. If it won't hold a charge, you may need a tow to a shop.
• Flat after hitting debris near the work zone. A flat tire change puts your spare on. You need a good spare in the trunk.
• Keys locked inside after a quick stop. A car lockout visit gets you back in.
• Engine trouble, a crash or no spare. That's a car tow to your shop or home.

Snow changes Academy fast. The city plows arterials and collectors first, which are most streets with painted stripes. So Academy itself usually clears before your side street does. If you slide into a snowbank on a side street, don't spin your tires. Ask about a winch-out if the car sits close to the road.

How does Sentinel Towing work?

Sentinel Towing is a towing and roadside network. A vetted local partner tow company does the job. We text you a locked price before anyone heads out. Then we stay with you by text until the truck arrives, and you can track your truck on a map. That's the Stay-With-You Promise. Partners handle cars, SUVs, minivans and light pickups. For more on local roads, see our Colorado Springs page.

Stuck right now? Call 1-888-TOW-1213, or request help online.

Academy Boulevard Questions

Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on it. Sources: City of Colorado Springs, Academy Boulevard Improvements, CDOT, South Academy widening update, Fort Carson visitor and gate information, Air Force Academy, getting on base, City of Colorado Springs snow plow routes, C.R.S. Title 42, COtrip.