US Highway 550 Red Mountain Pass, which connects Silverton and Ouray in southwest Colorado, will be closed for winter maintenance operations on Saturday, December 6 and Tuesday, December 9. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) announced that these closures are necessary to perform safety-critical work during the winter season.
On Saturday, December 6, traffic delays will begin at 8 a.m. between Mile Points 80 and 81. Motorists should expect delays of up to 40 minutes throughout the morning. Northbound travelers will encounter a closure about 10 miles north of Silverton (Mile Point 80.9), while southbound travelers will see a closure about 12 miles south of Ouray (Mile Point 81.5).
A more extensive operation is scheduled for Tuesday, December 9, when US 550 will be fully closed in both directions starting at 10 a.m., with an anticipated reopening by approximately 2 p.m., depending on how quickly the work is completed. Northbound travelers will encounter the closure near Ophir Pass Road (Mile Point 75.2), five miles north of Silverton; southbound travelers will reach it between Ironton and Chattanooga Mine (Mile Point 79.2), about fourteen miles south of Ouray.
Motorists are advised not to attempt to bypass closure gates during these periods. Parking and recreational activities are prohibited between the closure points while maintenance is underway, and backcountry users must remove their vehicles before closures begin.
Travelers may consider using CO Highway 145 through Lizard Head Pass as an alternate route, which adds about one hour to the drive and makes the total trip between Durango and Ridgway roughly three hours over approximately 150 miles.
The CDOT reminds drivers that snow conditions may require additional maintenance or safety closures on many highways in southwest Colorado during winter months. For real-time updates on planned or critical safety closures, motorists can visit COtrip.org.
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