NEWS FROM:
twitter: @coloradodot
Contact: Lisa Schwantes, Region 5 Communications Manager
970.385.1428 office /970.749.2015 mobile
January 9, 2017
**TRAVEL ADVISORY**
US 550 North of Durango: CLOSED
SW & S-CENTRAL COLORADO – The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has closed US Highway (US) 550 north of Durango including all three mountain passes Coal Bank, Molas and Red Mountain. The 42-mile closure begins just north of Purgatory Ski Resort and Cascade Creek at mile point (MP) 53 and continues to the Town of Ouray, MP 95. There is no estimated time of opening. Avalanche control operations will begin at daylight first thing tomorrow morning, Tuesday, Jan 10.
“This winter storm has brought heavy snowfall to the San Juan Mountain Range and the US 550 corridor,” said John Palmer, CDOT deputy superintendent of maintenance in Durango. “The significant amount of snow has resulted in high avalanche and snow slide danger. We have documented a natural slide just south of Red Mountain Pass summit, and are working on clearing snow from the road between Molas and Coal Bank Passes, where a backcountry skier triggered a slide.”
The natural slide on Red Mountain pass did not reach the road, but the skier triggered avalanche near Lime Creek covered a 200-foot length of highway with snow 8 feet deep. CDOT maintenance personnel reported that a skier was initially caught in the slide but was able to break free. No vehicles were involved in the slide.
CDOT maintenance crews also reported several vehicles sliding off the roadways of the mountain pass areas and similar incidents on slick roads at lower elevations throughout the region.
Palmer added, “Your best bet for driving in slick and icy conditions is to be patient and slow down! We also ask that motorists give plenty of room for our plows to do the job.”
STAY INFORMED: Road and weather conditions are available by dialing 511, 303-639-1111, or visiting www.cotrip.org. Also available on the COtrip site are:
To sign up to receive project information and/or lane closure updates on state highways in the area of your choice, visit CDOT’s website at www.codot.gov and choose the envelope icon at the bottom of the page. Or, to see CDOT’s lane closure reports for projects statewide, visit www.codot.gov/travel/scheduled-lane-closures.html.
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