Colorado Springs Utilities has delayed the lane closures along Austin Bluffs Parkway that were scheduled to begin Monday as they prepare to relocate electric infrastructure for a new substation.

The first phase of the Central Bluffs Substation Project, which will combine two substations and a switch station into a single facility, will result in the closure of two westbound lanes on Austin Bluffs, from just west of Goldenrod Drive to the Union Boulevard off ramp, Utilities officials said. Crews were scheduled to begin relocating underground electric lines during the initial phase.

In an announcement Monday afternoon, Utilities said the lane closure will be delayed until later in February to do more preparation and inspection work on the site. “This approach helps ensure we do not close the road until it is absolutely necessary,” Utilities stated in the announcement.

The two westbound lanes will be closed in the next few weeks once construction begins and will be reopened by March 9. Utilities said the next phases of traffic shifts and lane closures along Austin Bluffs will take place by mid-May.

Drivers using Austin Bluffs once the roadwork begins should expect congestion and slower travel times, especially during peak morning and afternoon hours, Utilities stated in previous releases.

The Central Bluffs Substation project is designed to improve the adaptability and efficiency of the electric grid as the city’s power needs change, officials said. The project should be completed by January 2027.

For more information on the project, visit csu.org/current-projects/central-bluffs-substation.

Brennen Kauffman contributed to this story.