COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Drivers on the city’s southwest side have been without a popular shortcut under I-25 between the Broadmoor World Arena and the south end of Janitell Road since February 2024.
Officials closed the one-way, single-lane Willwood Tunnel for safety reasons — explaining that there was too much traffic congestion from drivers using the tunnel to detour around the recent replacement of four bridges on South Circle Drive.
However, much to the pleasant surprise of many drivers, the tunnel reopened on Thursday.
Traffic flows eastbound only through the tunnel because Willwood Road near the arena has more traffic than Janitell, which dead-ends a short distance to the south.
City officials issued a press release on Thursday morning to announce that the tunnel would officially reopen on Friday, but a spokesman said that crews had finished removing concrete barriers and cleaning up accumulated trash and debris sooner than expected.
KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior often heard from viewers who asked when the tunnel would reopen and when the area would be cleaned up; the city promised that the tunnel would reopen when the bridge project neared full completion…