Milton E. Proby Parkway Construction Project
Final Traffic Movement
Ramp A Traffic Movement:
Northbound Academy Blvd. Traffic to Eastbound Milton
E. Proby Parkway.
Ramp B Traffic Movement:
Westbound Milton E. Proby Parkway Traffic to
Southbound Academy Boulevard.
E
N
RAMP A
RAMP B
RAMP E
RAMP C
Ramp D Traffic Movement:
Westbound Milton E. Proby Parkway Traffic to
Northbound Academy Boulevard and Drennan Road
west of Academy Boulevard.
Ramp E Traffic Movement:
Eastbound Drennan Road to Eastbound Milton E.
Proby Parkway
April 2011 | BuildProby.com
Ramp C Bridge is 85% Complete
W
RAMP D
Ramp C Traffic Movement:
Southbound Academy Blvd. Traffic to Eastbound Milton
E. Proby Parkway.
S
Newsletter
Know before
you go
ACADEMY BRIDGE
Artist rendering of completed project.
Your voice matters.
Ramp C Bridge looking West
PPRTA
•Clyde Pikkaraine
Project Manager
City of Colorado Springs
•Robin Kidder
Acting City Engineer
Ames Construction, Inc.
•Sheryl Machado
Project Information Manager
Atkins
•Jeff Klimek
Senior Construction Manager
Project Information Line
719-268-7430
Project Website
BuildProby.com
Construction crews are making great progress on the highly visible flyover bridge that will eventually take
motorists traveling south bound on Academy Boulevard to east bound Milton E. Proby Parkway. The bridge
will be completed this summer with all roadways open in late fall of this year. The bridge deck for the Ramp
C bridge was poured on two separate dates. The first pour on March 29th took approximately 8.5 hours.
Approximately 445 cubic yards of concrete were used to pour the first portion of the driving surface for the
new bridge. The second pour took place on April 16th, taking 5 hours to complete, utilizing another 445 cubic
yards of concrete. Now that the deck has been poured the next phase of constructing the bridge will begin.
What Is Next? Ames will post-tension the bridge
superstructure, which will strengthen the bridge to be selfsupporting. This will facilitate the removal of the temporary
support structures that include the steel beams and wood
posts that currently exist on Academy Boulevard and
Drennan Road. At that time the height restrictions and
narrowed lanes will be eliminated. This will help to ease
traffic constraints currently in place. Work remaining to
complete the bridge includes installing bridge rails, street
lights, signs, striping and painting.
Soffit excavation
Proby Update
Completed Winter Work:
• Ramp E bridge deck has been poured
• Traffic has been moved onto the new Academy
Boulevard bridge
• The FMIC siphon box and channel is complete
and water is flowing
• 85% of the concrete on the Ramp C bridge is
poured
• The south portion of Academy Boulevard is
paved
Anticipated Spring Work:
• Construction of Ramp B under Ramp C will
begin
• Storm drain work on Ramp B will begin
• Ramps A, B and C will be paved connecting to
Milton E. Proby Parkway
• Completion of the MSE walls on all bridges
• Completion of the north and south Academy
storm drainage ponds
• Continue topsoil placement and seeding
throughout the project
• Continue Drennan Road Improvements
• Complete work on Hancock Expressway
• Build traffic signals at Hancock Expressway and
Milton E. Proby Parkway
• Utility relocations under Drennan Road
Keep It Safe!
The first week of April ushered in
National Work Zone Awareness
week. What can you do to keep it
safe in our local work zones?
• Never use a cell phone or text
while driving
• Stay Alert! Expect the
unexpected
• Slow down and don’t tailgate
• Pay attention to signs
• Obey the flaggers
• Be patient and stay calm
• Know the road rules for work zones
Unfortunately, we have had several trucks attempt to
maneuver the truck closure at Academy Boulevard
and Drennan Road potentially jeopardizing the
project, the safety of the structure, and the crews
working above ground. The vertical clearance during
this closure is 14 feet. Lanes were also narrowed to
9.5 feet. All truck traffic is being detoured to Hancock
Expressway and Astrozon Boulevard during this
closure. Your patience and cooperation is greatly
appreciated as we finish this portion of the project.
The Statistics
• In 2009, 667 people were killed in motor vehicle
crashes in highway work zones and more than
30,000 were injured.
• About 85 percent of those killed in work zones are
drivers and their passengers.
• Distracted driving causes 25% of all traffic
accidents.
Local Cub Scouts Pack #110
Visit the Milton E. Proby
Parkway Project
Pipe Installation
Almost Complete
Pipe installation on the Milton E. Proby
Parkway Project is almost complete. To date,
12,144 lineal feet, or 2.3 miles of storm sewer
pipe has been installed from Powers Boulevard
through Academy Boulevard. With only 1100
feet left to lay, the installation is now over 90%
complete. Pipe installation is anticipated to be
complete by the Fall of 2011.
March 15, 2011
Jeff Klimek, Atkins Project
Manager, Steve Lange, Ames
Construction Superintendent,
Ed French, Ames Construction
Structures Superintendent,
Gordon Lindvall, Atkins Inspector
Pack #110 Members:
Jackson Alston, Dane Birkeness,
Lucas Debiase, Noah Desort,
Christopher Haworth, Aidan
Keenan, Will Louis, Dillon
McElroy, Alex North, Hayden
O’haver, Josh Suslow, Collin
Tiemens, and Aidan Todorov.
Hancock Pond and Drainage Structure
Know Before You Go
“Thank you for hosting a fabulous learning experience for our Cub
Ames Construction is committed to keeping you informed
Scouts on last Tuesday. The boys appreciate having all their questions
Project Website: BuildProby.com | Project Hotline: 719-268-7430 | Project Email: [email protected]
answered, and I know they liked talking with real engineers. The
Scouts thoroughly enjoyed going outside and climbing on the bridge.
The explanations given the boys while actually standing on the
If you would like to be added to the project’s e-newsletter distribution list, sign up at the project website.
No internet? Call the project hotline to request a copy via U.S. Mail.719.268.7430.
structure made the complicated bridge planning process, as shown
by the 1-inch thick sheaves of bridge plans you gave us, come to
life. Through the kindnesses shown our boys by you and your team
of experts, I am certain we also realized an increase in each Scout’s
confidence in trying to understand complicated enterprises such as
yours. Thank you for a great experience.”
Lloyd M. Alston
Cubmaster Pack #110
Interesting Milton E. Proby Parkway Factoids
•To date, 1.8 million pounds of steel has been placed on the Milton E. Proby Parkway
Project. This equates to same weight as 500 average passenger cars that will
eventually travel over the new bridge.
•To date, 7,370 cubic yards of concrete has been poured on the project. This equates to
30 miles of a 4 foot wide sidewalk.
•To date, 1 million cubic yards of dirt has been moved. This equates to a 10 foot by
10 foot trench from Colorado Springs to Denver.
The Fountain
Mutual Irrigation
Channel
The Fountain Mutual Irrigation Channel (FMIC) relocation under
S. Academy Blvd. was completed March 16th. Fountain Mutual
provides water to fill the Big Johnson Reservoir which in turn
services many different local shareholders. As part of the Milton
E. Proby Parkway Project an agreement was developed between
FMIC and the City of Colorado Springs to relocate a portion of the
open channel and pipe crossing of Academy Boulevard. Ames
Construction constructed the 25 feet deep siphon box in three
phases while maintaining full traffic movements on north and
southbound Academy Blvd. In all, Ames Construction crews placed
662 cubic yards of concrete to build the new channel and siphon
box. FMIC tested the construction of the channel and siphon on
April 7th. The relocation was a success and the water can now flow
through this newly constructed portion of the channel.
New FMIC Structure