For travelers planning a trip through the scenic San Juan Mountains this Wednesday, heads up, The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has announced a temporary closure of US 550 Red Mountain Pass. Starting at 8:30 a.m., maintenance crews will be performing winter operations, and drivers should anticipate intermittent stoppages. While the exact reopening time isn't set in stone, interruptions could stretch on for 30 minutes or longer, most of the morning, according to CDOT.
As reported by CDOT, both north and southbound routes will be affected, with closures occurring approximately ten miles north of Silverton at Mile Point 81 for those headed towards the peaks and near Bear Creek Bridge, some two miles south of Ouray at Mile Point 90 for the valley-bound. Flaggers will be present to guide the vehicles through these sections. Motorists are advised by CDOT to plan for these delays in their itinerary or seek alternative routes, considering the severity of avalanche danger and snow removal success could alter delay times.
With winter still asserting its presence in Colorado's higher elevations, CDOT strongly suggests the “know before you go” approach. They urge travelers to gather crucial information such as weather forecasts and anticipated travel impacts along with the latest road conditions before departing. Useful resources include COtrip.org for real-time traffic updates and the new COtrip Planner app, which offers information conveniently on mobile and tablet devices, downloadable from the Google Play Store or Apple Store.
