US 50 Blue Mesa Bridge Update

Overview

A safety closure is in place for a bridge on US Highway 50 located west of Gunnison. The Colorado Department of Transportation has closed the bridge at the urging of the Federal Highway Administration and state bridge engineering experts due to the findings of an ongoing safety inspection, which identified anomalies in the bridge on Thursday, April 18. The closure is in place between US 50 Mile Point 136 and MP 140. Motorists should use COtrip.org to plan an alternate route. There is currently no estimated time for reopening as of Wednesday, May 18. Updates will be made to this website once an estimate is available.

Follow the US 50 Blue Mesa Bridge Closure Facebook page for updates.

Map depicting closure locations on US 50 west of Gunnison — US 50 map showing the road is closed in both directions from Mile Point 136 to 140

US 50 bridge crossing the Blue Mesa Reservoir near Dillon Pinnacles that is now closed

Public Meeting Recording on May 7, 2024

Public Meeting Recording on April 23, 2024

US 50 Bridge Photos

Recommended Alternate Routes for US 50

This closure will create a significant detour for commuters between Montrose and Gunnison. The recommended detour route for through traffic is via I-70 to the north or US 160 to the south. Access the recommended detour route on COtrip here. CDOT understands the inconvenience that this creates and is rapidly evaluating options to improve options for residents, businesses, and travelers on the western slope.

The northern route is 354 miles and requires approximately six hours of travel time. The southern route is 331 miles and requires nearly seven hours of travel time. CDOT and local partners are exploring whether it is feasible at this point in the season to clear local seasonal routes that may be able to significantly reduce the detour time for local travelers.

Local Access Route for Gunnison, Hinsdale and Montrose counties

The County Road 26 bypass is open 4 times per day in each direction for local public travel with reduced Commercial Motor Vehicle and trailer restrictions, as follows: the State of Colorado legal maximum vehicle dimensions and weights will be enforced. This will allow trailers and heavier commercial use of the bypass. To maintain this as a viable, safe bypass, traffic will be managed using pilot vehicles. CR 26 (also known as Lake City Cutoff) is a high mountain native surface road that is not built to sustain US 50 traffic levels. Travel time through the access route is expected to be 30 minutes or more.

Piloted release times for westbound travel starting at CO 149 and CR 26 will be:

6:30 to 7 a.m.
12 to 12:30 p.m.
6:30 to 7 p.m.
8:30 to 9 p.m.

Piloted release times for eastbound travel starting at US 50 and CR 26 will be:

7:30 to 8 a.m.
1 to 1:30 p.m.
7:30 to 8 p.m.
9:30 to 10 p.m.

No other public travel will be allowed outside of these times.

No Oversize/Overweight vehicles per Colorado Department of Transportation Regulations. https://leg.colorado.gov/content/size-and-weight-limitations
No Placarded Hazardous Materials loads per Colorado Department of Transportation Regulations
Prohibited vehicles will need to use detours on Interstate 70 or Colorado Highway 160 to travel between Gunnison and Montrose.

Bicyclists and County Road 26

We strongly recommend that cyclists avoid traveling on CR 26, though it is not prohibited. While the road has been improved to allow for a single lane of timed entry, it is still a compacted dirt surface with the requirement to clear the road before the next timed entry traffic. We cannot guarantee the safety of bicyclists on this route and for that reason it is recommended to use alternate roads for recreational cycling.

We encourage cyclists to explore the numerous local trails available. Not only will this ensure a safer experience, but it will also enhance the enjoyment of your ride. Check with local bike shops for information about where to ride and upcoming events and races.

Resources for Information and Updates:

Call (970) 648-4423 for the US 50 Bridge Closure Hotline, it will be staffed 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; leave a voicemail for a call back at other times.
You can email questions to [email protected].
To sign up for text and or email updates on all Gunnison County roadwork messaging, please visit https://www.gunnisoncounty.org/list.aspx to select what updates you’d like to start receiving. For road updates, select for Travel Advisories from the List.

Gunnison County Road 25 remains closed. County Road 25 will remain closed until safety improvements have been completed.

Bypass Guidelines	Bypass Restrictions
Checking for updates daily is advised in the event bypass access is adjusted due to necessary roadwork from changes in road condition.	The bypass will not be open to vehicles more than 85,000 GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). https://leg.colorado.gov/content/size-and-weight-limitations.
Local public travel refers to travel related to medical visits, commuting for work, and for residents who live on either side of the road closure.	No oversize loads or Hazardous Materials will be allowed.
To maintain this route crews will work on CR 26 road repairs between release times so no other public travel will be allowed before and after those two timeframes. Ambulances will be utilizing this road as well when critically needed.	Prohibited vehicles will need to use I-70 or Colorado Highway 160 (US 160) to travel between Gunnison and Montrose.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will this closure last?

This is an evolving situation, and there is currently no reopening date. CDOT’s goal is to keep nearby residents and the public informed and will provide updates as they develop.

What is considered critical local traffic?

This route is intended for essential trips such as doctor's appointments, school, work, etc. It is not meant for recreational and/or non-local travel. Driver licenses and vehicle plates will not be used to determine eligibility. While CDOT's detour crews trust that drivers will honor the guidelines of the detour, they reserve the right to turn any vehicle away that is not using the detour as stated above. >

What type of vehicles are allowed to use the CR 26 piloted detour?

County Road 26 is not open to heavy commercial or recreational vehicles. Trailers of any type are not allowed, and the local access route is not open to commercial vehicles in excess of 16,001 GVWR. Prohibited vehicles will need to use detours on I-70 or Colorado Highway 160 to travel between Gunnison and Montrose.

How do I get my (mail, propane, package, etc.) delivered or trash picked up?

Gunnison County is currently working through these various community needs. People with post office boxes can travel to the post office during the regular open hours for County Road 26. The Postmasters have been notified and they don’t anticipate any disruptions to mail delivery. If anyone does experience a problem with mail service, Senator Hickenlooper’s office is helping and people can visit www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/help-with-federal-agencies-form/. Propane is available on both sides of the closure so that shouldn’t be an issue. For trash collected on the east side of the closure for transport to Grand Junction, please contact the County to use the Gunnison landfill. For all other questions, like whether or not trash haulers can access residences on County Roads 25 and 26, please reach out to the project email at [email protected].

Is Kebler Pass open?

Kebler Pass is currently closed due to winter conditions and typically opens in late May. CDOT is working to potentially clear the roadway for use.

Is HazMat allowed on the alternate routes provided?

HazMat drivers should check with CDOT’s freight office when choosing between the recommended alternate routes (I-70 and US 160). The freight office can be reached at 303-757-9539 or [email protected]. More information is posted to freight.colorado.gov. HazMat vehicles will not be allowed on any local alternate routes available now or in the coming weeks.

Can we drive boats under the bridge?

Currently, there are no restrictions against boaters driving under the bridge, but please refrain from stopping right under the bridge where inspectors are working above. This could pose a safety risk should a piece of equipment fall from the bridge. CDOT’s concern is vehicles driving on the bridge. The bridge is structurally sound as it stands and does not impact boaters.

Is there access to marinas and recreation areas?

The closure point on the Gunnison side has been moved further west to provide access to places like the Bay of Chickens and Elk Creek Marina. Likewise for people on the Montrose side of the reservoir they will be able to access the Lake Fork Marina and recreation areas on that end. When you approach flaggers at the closure point, just let them know that is where you are going and they will let you through. To get to the east side of recreation areas from Montrose and west side recreaion areas from Gunnison, people will need to take the County Road 26 cut-through during the set hours of pilot car operations.

When can we move our livestock from one side to the other?

Multiple agencies are coordinating on this issue, and we are putting together a list of everyone who is need of livestock transport. If you would like to be added to the list for updates once the team knows more, please email the project at [email protected].

When will larger vehicles be able to use CR 26, and/or when will more travel windows open up for CR 26?

This is an ever-changing situation and right now we are unsure when we will know more. Kiewit Construction started remediation work on County Road 26 on Tuesday, April 23. We are considering adding additional travel time windows on CR 26, but it will depend on how soon they can make enough progress on improving this road. There are no plans to pave County Road 26, and larger vehicles will not be allowed to use it.

What is being done to support the small businesses affected by this? Are there grants or similar financial assistance they can access?

Given the declaration of a state emergency, we have activated the state’s recovery task force to coordinate the capacity of various state agencies to address the economic impacts for agriculture, tourism and other impacted economies in the county. The effort will begin with an assessment of the economy by working in collaboration with the impacted jurisdictions and then work with state agencies to find opportunities. Legislation that may be applicable and appropriate to these circumstances was passed two years ago. We will work with the appropriate parties for solutions.

What is CDOT doing during the bridge closure?

CDOT is continuing to inspect the bridge to find any further cracks or anomalies. More have been found since the original closure on April 18. Engineering teams are reviewing repair options, so that repairs to the bridge can begin as quickly and safely as possible. CDOT is working with contractor Kiewit Infrastructure Co., to assist with the bridge inspections and repairs, as well as improvements to County Road 26 (Lake City Cutoff), to allow limited local traffic around the road closure.

What about the other bridges in the area?

There is one other bridge in the state that uses the same steel and construction, just a few miles west on US 50. CDOT is continuing to inspect both bridges, and the results of those inspections will determine next steps.

Key Facts:

CDOT has been conducting a special inspection for high-strength steel bridges for the Blue Mesa bridges as required by the Federal Highway Administration. This inspection was required because of known issues with similarly constructed bridges elsewhere in the country. A defect was observed during an early investigation of the bridge at approximately Mile Point 136.3. CDOT immediately brought in a second inspection crew with resources to perform another method for testing whether the defect posed a safety hazard on the bridge. The second inspection took place on Thursday, April 18.
CDOT is continuing to assess the safety of the bridge and to quickly determine options for interim and permanent fixes – and will keep the public informed as soon as more information is available. The bridge closure is located between Gunnison and Montrose. It is located east of the US 50 Little Blue Creek Canyon project, which is currently in a planned winter shutdown.
Once our inspection plans are finalized and we can more accurately forecast a time frame to complete that work, we will be able to follow up with additional information for the public about the duration of this closure. As more of the inspection work is complete, we will also have more details to share about the condition of the bridges, as well as any restrictions that will need to remain in place while repairs are made.