US 50 Emergency Bridge Improvements
Extended opening on Oct. 5:
Saturday, Oct. 5, the US 50 Middle Bridge pilot car operation will operate from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. to accommodate people attending the Western Colorado University football game. Sunday, Oct. 6 the schedule reverts to the 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. schedule.
County Road 26 maintenance activities moving to Sundays
Roadway maintenance activities on County Road 26 will move from Wednesdays to Sundays effective Sunday, Sept. 29. County Road 26 will be closed to travel 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each Sunday. See the County Road 26 Detour Information page for the full pilot car schedule.
Expanded opening of US 50 Middle Bridge:
As of Tuesday, Sept. 3, travel over the US 50 Middle Bridge is open from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. For information about the schedule check out the US 50 Middle Bridge Openings Schedule page.
The following vehicles are allowed to use the bridges as of Friday, Aug. 30 (a visual guide is linked here):
- Passenger vehicles
- Pickup trucks
- Vans
- Motorcycles
- Emergency vehicles, ambulances and fire trucks
- School buses
- 3/4 ton or smaller pickups with bumper pull trailers (boats, campers, side-by-sides)
- Compact Class C motorhomes
- Small single-rear axle box trucks
- Bicycles
- Unloaded Tow Trucks
The following vehicles must use County Road 26 (for more information visit the County Road 26 Detour Information webpage):
- All Class A motorhomes
- Larger Class C motorhomes
- Semi-trucks
- Commercial buses
- Pickup trucks with a gooseneck trailer or a 5th-wheel camper or trailer
US 50 Lake Fork Bridge
For the US 50 Lake Fork Bridge (just west of Sapinero), starting Tuesday, Sept. 3, the bridge will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily with pilot car operations and alternating traffic. The bridge will remain open overnight, but there will be periodic traffic holds from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. All legal loads and bicycles are permissible, but no overweight loads are currently allowed across the Lake Fork Bridge.
About the Project:
US 50 bridge crossing the Blue Mesa Reservoir near Dillon Pinnacles that is now closed
CDOT conducted 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. The US 50 Blue Mesa Bridge was closed between Mile Point 136 and MP 140 shortly after due to safety reasons so that crews could conduct repairs.
The US 50 Blue Mesa Bridge repairs have been conducted in phases to be able to open the bridge to some travel. Phase I repairs, which involved fixing cracks and critical issues in four areas that posed an imminent risk to structural integrity, were completed in July 2024, allowing the bridge to open to smaller vehicles and emergency services.
Phase II completion along with a full reopening of the bridge is scheduled for fall 2024.
Motorists should use COtrip.org to plan an alternate route, unless you are planning on stopping in one of the communities surrounding the closure then please visit the US 50 Middle Bridge Openings Schedule page.
Detour Route of US 50 & Closures on COtrip
Project Facts
- Construction Cost: $6 Million
- Contractor: Kiewit
- Timeline: April 2024 to fall 2024
- Location: US 50 eastbound and westbound
- Nearest Town/City: Gunnison
- Mile Point(s): 137.30 to 137.31
- County: Hinsdale, Gunnison, and Montrose counties
US 50 map showing the road is closed in both directions from Mile Point 136 to 140
Traffic Impacts
Recommended Alternate Routes for US 50
The recommended detour route for through traffic (those not stopping in Crested Butte, Gunnison, Hinsdale County, Montrose or other surrounding areas) is via I-70 to the north or US 160 to the south. Access the recommended detour route on COtrip here.
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. For those planning to stop in the communities surrounding this closure, visit the US 50 Middle Bridge Openings Schedule or County Road 26 Detour Information pages to see the local access detours.
