Colorado Springs Daily Briefing

Hancock Expressway closure to squeeze east-side traffic

Drivers on the southeast side of Colorado Springs should brace for new delays. The city is closing Hancock Expressway under South Circle Drive for about a month so crews can demolish the last remnants of the old Circle Drive bridges and continue work on the $45 million replacement project. Two lanes will remain open on Circle Drive itself, but Hancock traffic will be detoured while demolition equipment and crews work beneath the new spans.

The long-running bridge project, funded through the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority, is aimed at replacing aging structures first built in the 1960s and improving safety for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians along this busy corridor.

City expands school safety zones around more campuses

The city and local school districts are ramping up efforts to slow drivers near schools after several years of steady crash numbers in school zones and one high-profile student death. New reduced-speed zones, flashing lights, crosswalk upgrades and other traffic-calming features are being added around more middle and high schools, not just elementary campuses.

Officials say the push reflects how many older students now drive or are dropped off in congested areas before and after class. Additional funding through the city’s long-running school safety program is helping districts pay for capital improvements and crossing guards as they work toward eventually covering every public school in Colorado Springs.

Warm, windy weather brings elevated fire danger

Unseasonably warm temperatures, low humidity and gusty winds over the last two days have led to red flag warnings across much of southeastern Colorado, including Colorado Springs. Forecasters say winds over 40 mph and very dry air create conditions where any spark could spread quickly, especially on the plains and in grassland areas around the city.

Residents are being urged to avoid outdoor burning, use extra caution with vehicles and equipment that could throw sparks, and be prepared for the possibility of targeted power shutoffs in areas where fire risk is highest. Mountain locations are seeing an opposite pattern, with active snow and increasing avalanche danger.

Tennessee businessmen among four killed in Colorado crash

Community members in Colorado and Tennessee are mourning four men killed in a small-plane crash in the Colorado mountains late last week, including two Tennessee businessmen and young relatives traveling with them. Federal investigators from the FAA and NTSB are examining weather, terrain and aircraft factors as they work to determine what caused the turboprop to go down near a ski area.

While the crash occurred outside the Pikes Peak region, it has drawn attention statewide and added to ongoing conversations about mountain flying safety during the busy winter recreation season.

Sources

• https://krdo.com/news/top-stories/2026/02/16/hancock-expressway-under-circle-drive-in-colorado-springs-to-close-for-a-month-starting-monday/
• https://coloradosprings.gov/CircleDrBridges
• https://gazette.com/2026/02/16/colorado-springs-increasing-safety-around-more-schools-in-2026/
• https://krdo.com/video/weather-video-2/2026/02/16/windy-and-dry-conditions-prompt-fire-danger/
• https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivAFBVV95cUxPYl9Ybi1tSzVIQmtxbjZpd3p0d01hcjVCTVRGVnZBX1NQR09aV0hfczN