If you're planning on trekking through the San Juan Mountains along US Highway 550 anytime soon, you might want to rethink your travel schedule. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has announced an impending closure of the highway between Ouray and Silverton, set to begin at 5 p.m. today. Due to necessary winter maintenance operations, drivers may face interruptions up to 30 minutes or potentially longer throughout most of the evening. Travelers are encouraged to strategize accordingly, either by allowing for additional travel time or by ensuring they pass through any closure points before the 5 p.m. cut-off.
Maintenance operations will prompt these stoppages. CDOT warned that "closure times are approximate as the length of delays depend on various factors including successful snow removal operations and severity of avalanche danger." According to CDOT, there's no set time for when the road will reopen. Northbound motorists will be stopped near the summit of Red Mountain Pass, while southbound traffic will halt near the Idarado Mine.
For those who can't avoid the area, traffic control personnel will be on scene to manage the closures and direct vehicles through the affected zones. However, it's worth considering alternative routes if your schedule is tight. CDOT has not provided a precise time for when the highway will return to service, emphasizing the dynamic nature of winter road maintenance and the potential for extended closures depending on the conditions they encounter.
