North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)

NORAD is a joint organization of Canada and the United States that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty and defense for North America. It was founded on May 12, 1958 as the North American Air Defense Command. Its main technical facility has been the Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center in Colorado, and for this reason NORAD is sometimes unofficially referred to as Cheyenne Mountain.

Located just west of Fort Carson, the best route from most Academy District-20 neighborhoods to NORAD is to take I-25 south. I-25 recently completed a two year expansion project and now boasts three traffic lanes along the route to Norad.

The following are suggested routes and approximate drive times from various Academy District-20 neighborhoods to NORAD:

• Northwest D-20 (Gleneagel, Flying Horse, Pine Creek): 25-30 minutes (Northgate or Interquest to I-25 south to South Academy exit, west to Rte. 115 and south to the NORAD turnoff);
• Northeast D-20 (Black Forest): 25-35 minutes (Shoup to Hwy 83 to Interquest to I-25 south to South Academy exit, west to Rte. 115 and south to the NORAD turnoff)
• Central D-20 (Briargate): 25-30 minutes (Briargate to I-25 south to South Academy exit, west to Rte. 115 and south to the NORAD turnoff)
• Southwest D-20 (Peregrine, Woodmen Valley, Rockrimmon): 20-25 minutes (Rockrimmon Blvd West to I-25 south South Academy exit, west to Rte. 115 and south to the NORAD turnoff)
• Southeast D-20 (Cordera, Wolf Ranch, Highland Park, eastern Briargate): 25-35 minutes (Powers south to Milton E. Proby Pkwy, east to south Academy Blvd, west to Rte. 115 and south to the NORAD turnoff)