Pueblo Speed Cameras Could Become Permanent, Bringing Changes for Southern Colorado Drivers

Drivers traveling between El Paso County, Fountain, and Pueblo may soon need to make a permanent adjustment to their commute. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is considering keeping automated speed enforcement cameras in place along Interstate 25 in Pueblo after early results showed a significant reduction in speeding through a major construction zone.

The cameras are currently installed in the I-25 and U.S. 50 interchange reconstruction project, one of the busiest transportation corridors for Southern Colorado residents. Thousands of commuters from El Paso County use this stretch of interstate each week for work, medical appointments, shopping, and travel throughout the state.

Beginning July 30, drivers traveling 10 miles per hour or more above the posted speed limit in the work zone will receive a $75 civil penalty mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle. Unlike traditional speeding tickets, violations issued through the automated system do not carry driver's license points, though motorists will have 45 days to either pay the fine or appeal it.

Since the warning period began in late June, CDOT reports that more than 11,000 warning notices have been issued to speeding drivers in Pueblo. During that same time, excessive speeding in the corridor dropped by nearly 67 percent, prompting transportation officials to evaluate whether the cameras should remain beyond the completion of the current construction project.

For residents in Fountain and throughout El Paso County, the proposal could signal a long-term change in how drivers navigate the interstate south of Colorado Springs.

Many Southern Colorado commuters regularly travel to Pueblo for employment opportunities, higher education, and regional events. The I-25 corridor also serves as a major route for military families stationed at local installations who frequently travel throughout the Front Range. If the cameras become permanent, drivers will need to pay closer attention to reduced speed limits when entering construction zones and other areas where automated enforcement may eventually expand.

CDOT has indicated that Pueblo is currently one of three locations participating in the Colorado Speed Enforcement Program. Transportation officials have also stated they are considering additional locations across the state as the program develops. The initiative was authorized under Colorado law in 2023 and was created in response to increasing work zone fatalities statewide. In 2024, Colorado recorded a record 31 work zone traffic deaths, while speed-related crashes remain one of the leading causes of fatalities on Colorado highways.

The automated system differs from traditional traffic cameras used at intersections. Rather than capturing a single moment in time, the cameras monitor vehicles traveling through the designated work zone and calculate average speeds. Drivers are notified by signage before entering an enforcement area, giving motorists advance warning that automated speed enforcement is active.

While some drivers may view the cameras as an inconvenience, CDOT says the goal is to improve safety in narrow and shifting construction zones where traditional traffic stops can place both law enforcement officers and construction workers at risk. Early data from other Colorado speed camera locations has shown reductions in excessive speeding ranging from more than 80 to 90 percent.

For commuters heading south on I-25 from El Paso County, the message is simple: slowing down may soon become more than a recommendation, it could become a permanent part of the drive through Pueblo.

Photo courtesy of KRDO News.