Independence Pass Closed for Season

November 2, 2011 - Northwestern Colorado/CDOT Region 3 - LAKE/PITKIN COUNTIES – It’s official! Colorado Department of Transportation maintenance crews handled snow and ice on either side of Independence Pass last night and the forecast calls for more snow this Friday and through the weekend.

For safety and logistics, CDOT will keep the pass—which closed yesterday at 1 PM—closed for the season, just a few days ahead of the annual planned closure date of November 7.

With four inches of snow west of the pass and eight inches east, cold temperatures, ice and snowpack, a seasonal closure was determined the best course of action for everyone’s safety on this narrow, winding roadway.

Motorists are encouraged to stay up to date on this and other road closures pending the next storm headed to the Rocky Mountain Region. The public can check CDOT’s traveler information site at www.cotrip.org, call 511 from anywhere in the state or sign up for FREE text and/or email alerts on road information in specific areas by choosing the green phone icon in the upper right-hand corner of CDOT’s home page at www.coloradodot.info. For winter weather driving information and safety tips, go to: http://www.coloradodot.info/TravelInfo/WinterDriving/Index.cfm