SW COLORADO TRAVEL ADVISORY: Mountain Pass Travel Delays Set for Southwest Colorado Travelers can expect delays Thursday morning for avalanche control work

February 6, 2019 - Southwestern Colorado

 

SOUTHWEST COLORADO ― The Colorado Department of Transportation is warning motorists in southwest Colorado that they will encounter delays if traveling through the high country tomorrow, Thursday, February 7. Partnering agencies, CDOT and the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, have determined avalanche control operations are required to keep mountain passes safe for the traveling public.

US 550 MOUNTAIN CORRIDOR―COAL BANK, MOLAS & RED MOUNTAIN PASSES: Motorists traveling on the US 550 mountain corridor between Durango and Ouray can expect lengthy delays for much of the day tomorrow (Thursday). Avalanche mitigation will take place on all three mountain passes, Coal Bank, Molas and Red Mountain which will require two lengthy closures.

From 7:00 a.m. to noon, crews will work on Coal Bank and Molas Passes. Northbound traffic will be stopped at Cascade, mile point (MP) 53, while southbound traffic will be stopped at Silverton, MP 70.

Crews will then move north to Red Mountain Pass. This work is anticipated to start at noon and continue for at least two hours. Northbound traffic will be stopped just outside of Silverton, MP 71. Southbound traffic will be stopped south of Ouray, MP 92.

US 160 WOLF CREEK PASS: Travelers heading over US Highway (US) 160 Wolf Creek Pass can expect a lengthy delay also Thursday morning while avalanche mitigation takes place on the west side of the pass summit beginning at 6:00 a.m. Motorists will experience a lengthy delay of up to two hours. (Please note, this delay may be longer should unusual circumstances arise.)

Eastbound traffic will be stopped at the Treasure Falls chain up station, MP 157. Skiers traveling eastbound (from Pagosa Springs) to the Wolf Creek Ski area should reach the Treasure Falls closure point before 6:00 a.m. in order to reach the resort.

Westbound traffic will be stopped near the pass summit, MP 166. Skiers traveling westbound (from South Fork) will be able to reach the ski area throughout the day, since the closure point is west of the resort.  

STAY INFORMED:

 

CDOT has approximately 3,000 employees located at its Denver headquarters and in regional offices throughout Colorado, and manages more than 23,000 lane miles of highway and 3,429 bridges. CDOT also manages grant partnerships with a range of other agencies including metropolitan planning organizations, local governments, and airports, and administers Bustang, the state-owned and operated interregional express service.  Governor Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s intermodal mobility options.