February 15th 2018 Update

The Midland Trail will be closed through Fall 2018 from Beckers Lane to Columbia Road for construction.  The signed detour route is to use El Paso Blvd. via either Columbia Road or Beckers Lane to connect back to the Midland Trail.  Please follow the signed detour for your safety.

Ridge Road is now permanently closed between W. Pikes Peak Avenue and Colorado Avenue for the installation of a pedestrian and bike plaza. W. Pikes Peak Avenue can be accessed from Manitou/Colorado Avenue via S. 36th or S. 34th Streets.

For more information look to our post about the pedestrian and bike plaza installation from January 5th

Midland Trail Closure – Adams Crossing Construction

In association with the Westside Avenue Action Plan Colorado Avenue Reconstruction, beginning Tuesday Oct 31st the stretch of Midland Trail between Columbia Road (Garden of the Gods RV Resort) and Beckers Lane (Manitou Springs Skate park) will be closed while bridge and creek work is being completed. This trail closure is anticipated to be in place for several months. The recommended detour as shown above is Columbia Road and El Paso Blvd.

If you have spent any time west of 31st street on Colorado Ave or any time in Manitou Springs recently,  you are probably already familiar with with the ongoing Colorado Ave and Manitou Ave construction project that is underway. While construction and trail closure can be frustrating,  when finished this project is going to provide great improvements for all road users whether on foot, bicycle, or automobile.

One of the key improvements being implemented in this plan is the replacement of the Adams Crossing bridge over Fountain Creek. The point where the Midland Trail crosses Colorado Ave has always been a difficult intersection to navigate on a bike. Once this bridge is complete there will also be a new alignment of Midland trail running along Fountain Creek allowing the trail to pass under the new Adams Crossing  bridge. This new, improved trail connection, will be in addition to the bike lanes that are planned to run from 31st street all that way in to Manitou Springs.

To stay up-to-date on the progress of this project we recommend following El Paso County on Facebook  as they have been releasing weekly update videos showing construction progress and what impacts that this construction is having on both roads and trails in the area.