Exit 142 - Bijou Street aerial picture
This interchange is going to change quite a bit. I-25 is only 4 lanes underneath this bridge, and Bijou is barely wide enough to handle the traffic. The bridge structures are going to be replaced in 2007. Additionally, I-25 is actually lower than the adjacent Monument Creek, so in times of heavy rain, this has the potential to flood.The on-and off-ramps on the north side of the interchange have all been redone with the last safety improvement project, but the ramps on the south side are quite short.
Live Camera courtesy springsgov.com
Original Pictures - taken April 2005 - open
- Original shot
The last button-copy sign on the interstate in Colorado Springs. It's definitely seen better days.
- Original shot
Northbound at the Bijou exit
- Original shot
Northbound approaching the Bijou merge
- Original shot
Southbund at the Bijou exit
- Original shot
If you look closely, you can see that the arrow was added to the sign after the sign was installed.
- Original shot
I suppose that the interstate could be widened under this bridge, but where's the fun in that?
- Original shot
Closer to the bridge than the previous shot.
- Original shot
This curve always causes traffic to slow to about 50. Besides the fact we're going uphill, I'm not sure why.
- Original shot
Heading east on Bijou approaching I-25
- Original shot
East on Bijou at the entrance to southbound 25. Note how the westbound traffic light is rigged.
- Original shot
This is the "onramp" to Southbound 25. At the end of this road you have a choice of entering the I or turning onto a surface street.
- Original shot
Close-up shot of the ramp from the access road to the interstate.
- Original shot
Exiting northbound 25 to Bijou.
- Original shot
At the top of the NB onramp looking north.
- Original shot
At the top of the NB onramp looking west.
- Original shot
At the top of the NB onramp looking east.
- Original shot
Eastbound on Bijou over Monument Creek and the railroad tracks.
- Original shot
After the bridge structures, eastbound Bijou curves hard to the right. Due to a city law that says no structure can be built over a city park, this curve will remain.
- 7/5/05
Westbound on Bijou approaching the bridge over the railroad tracks and Monument Creek.
- 7/5/05
Westbound Bijou on the first bridge. We're approaching the I-25 interchange.
- 7/5/05
At the I-25 interchange facing west. Sorry about the sun.
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Construction Pictures: newest to oldest
Current Update
- 9/13/06
One of the last "original shots" we'll have of this interchange.
- 9/13/06
Just after the Bijou overpass looking north.
- 8/23/06
Looking up at the northbound offramp's intersection with Bijou Street. This was taken from the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail.
- 8/23/06
Looking at the Bijou Street Bridge over Monument Creek, the trail, and the railroad lines.
- 8/23/06
The Bijou Street Bridge is actually 4 separate structures bound together: the westbound and eastbound lanes are on their own structures.
- 8/23/06
Closer to the westmost two structures of the Bijou Street Bridge.
- 8/23/06
Looking at the point where the two structures making up the eastbound lanes meet.
- 8/23/06
Zooming in for a look at the damage this cement has. You can also see the detailing for the railings, both on and under the bridge deck.
- 8/23/06
Looking east directly under the bridge structures. This is a big homeless camping area down here.
- 8/23/06
Looking up to show how two bridge sections are combined.
- 8/23/06
Looking west from the northern edge of the bridge. The curved railing leads to the NB I-25 onramp.
- 8/23/06
Taken from the same spot as the last pic, just looking east.
- 8/23/06
The westernmost bridge abutment before I-25. Here you can see the two different sections of bridgework over the creek.
- 8/23/06
This damage was done by an errant car hitting the guardrail. With the bridge this close to demolition, why bother fixing the issues?
- 8/23/06
Looking south from the Bijou Street Bridge from the Pikes Peak Greenway trail. This sight will be changing very soon.
- 8/23/06
One last shot of the Bijou Street Bridge/NB 25 intersection. This is taken from the ford the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail crosses.
- 8/23/06
One of the biggest challenges facing crews here is the preservation of 1920's-era WPA walls. This is one example of those walls. They are all throughout the area around the Bijou interchange.
- 8/23/06
On Bijou approaching 25 from the east.
- 8/23/06
Work continues on the former Western Gasoline location. Right now, it's gas tank removal day.
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Recent updates
- 05/23/06
A close-up of the beaten-up button-copy LGS for Bijou.
- 9/15/05
Asphalt overlay south of here begins and ends at the Bijou bridge.
- 9/12/05
A fuel truck is stopped refueling a steamroller and other equipment.
- 9/12/05
South of here, the pavement is in really bad shape.
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- Where to next?
- Colorado Avenue
- COSMIX Home
- Exit 143
Disclaimer: This website is not affiliated with the COSMIX Project or the Colorado Department of Transportation. All pictures contained on this site are solely the property of Ryan Wanner unless otherwise specified. Copying/distributing these pictures without my authorization is going to put me in a pretty bad mood, and you don't want to see that, trust me. Linking to this site is more than welcome, but let me know so that I can return the favor. That is all, have a good day, k?--Ryan
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