(COLORADO SPRINGS) — An open house will be held on Wednesday, May 7 to inform locals on the impacts of an upcoming improvement project on the west side.

Construction begins in late May on the 8th Street Corridor Improvements Project, which will implement multiple upgrades from Fountain Creek to Motor City Drive. Wednesday’s open house will go over the three phases of construction planned for the project.

The first phase starts with widening the bridge over Fountain Creek to ease traffic impacts during later construction phases by providing additional traffic capacity and mobility. This will include the addition of a northbound lane with attached sidewalk/trail for improved access to Highway 24 and the Midland Trail.

“So on on 8th Street, currently you only have one lane that goes northbound up to the the intersection with [Highway] 24. The other one takes that right, that forces you eastbound on Highway 24,” said Ryan Phipps, Engineering Program Manager with the City. “This project is going to widen the existing bridge to allow two full northbound lanes to go all the way up and cross Highway 24.”

Courtesy: City of Colorado Springs

Additional work includes drainage improvements from Bear Creek to Moreno Avenue, traffic signal improvements on 8th Street at Lower Gold Camp Road and Moreno Avenue, and replacement of a 24-inch water main under 8th Street, from Vermijo Avenue to Motor City Drive.

The open house will be held Wednesday, May 7 from 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. at the Norris Penrose Event Center, 1045 Lower Gold Camp Rd.