Road warriors and mountain pass enthusiasts, plan for an upcoming travel pause if your route leads through the San Juan Skyway. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is gearing up for helicopter operations critical to keeping hillside motorists safe. On Thursday, May 29, CDOT will fully close US Highway 550, the breathtaking corridor known as the Red Mountain Pass, putting a temporary halt to travel between Silverton and Ouray.
Delays will begin at 7:30 a.m. and may stretch for a significant portion of the morning. There's no specified ending time for the closure. The section of US 550 from the Red Mountain Pass Summit to the Bear Creek Overlook (Mile Points 81 to 90.9) will see these impacts. According to CDOT, helicopter operations are necessary for routine maintenance on multiple avalanche mitigation units located above the highway, which is deemed crucial given the area's history with snowslides.
For those heading northbound, expect a blockade approximately ten miles north of Silverton near the Mountain Pass summit (Mile Point 81). Southbound voyagers will be halted at the Bear Creek Overlook, about three miles south of Ouray (Mile Point 90.9). In sporadic instances and if conditions allow, flaggers may guide motorists through, but it is wise to anticipate extensive wait times. All travelers are encouraged to monitor the most up-to-date closures and conditions via CDOT's COtrip.org or the COtrip Planner app.
