CDOT Adding New Communications Tools for U.S. 24

August 21, 2014 - Southeastern Colorado/CDOT Region 2 - COLORADO SPRINGS — The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has developed new methods to help ensure the public is informed about road conditions and protocols for U.S. 24 on Ute Pass – primarily when flooding is possible but also when there are other impacts to travel.

In addition to continuing notifications by the use of electronic sign boards, CDOT is implementing the following:

  • An email/text alert system that notifies motorists, communities and others of road conditions, closures and openings, accidents and other impacts to Highway 24.  To subscribe, please visit www.coloradodot.info and click on the green cell-phone icon in the upper right-hand corner.  The link takes you to a list of items you can subscribe to, including U.S. 24 Ute Pass.
  • A U.S. 24 webpage that includes Frequently Asked Questions about the Ute Pass corridor, construction project information, photos, etc.  It will be available at: www.coloradodot.info/projects/us24utepass

CDOT also is encouraging people to follow the agency on Twitter and Facebook as information is regularly shared on roadway conditions and other issues of interest.

The closure protocol CDOT has implemented for Highway 24 will remain in place throughSeptember 30, requiring a closure of the highway whenever the National Weather Service issues a Flash Flood Warning for the Waldo Canyon Burn Scar area or the rain gauges installed at key locations indicate at ¼ of an inch of rain (information sent electronically).

Following the flood season, CDOT will again meet with local, state and federal agencies and officials, impacted communities and others to assess the current process and determine if changes need to be made regarding protocols.  Since a number of improvements will have been completed, it may allow a reduction in the number of closures needed.

“Closing Highway 24 is not something we do impulsively.  There are specific criteria we need to meet to require a closure to ensure the safety of the traveling public,” said CDOT Regional Transportation Director Karen Rowe.  “By implementing these additional tools, our goal is to make sure that the people who drive the corridor are able to receive the most up-to-date information for their travel plans and to know what we’re doing on the U.S. 24 – Ute Pass corridor.”

CDOT has closed the highway in the Ute Pass area nine times since May 2014. The highway was closed 17 times in 2013, including three flood events, the worst of which was on August 9, when, in addition to flooding, mud and debris covered the highway, and one fatality was recorded.

For information regarding CDOT projects statewide, log on to www.cotrip.org, download the CDOT Mobile app or call 511 from anywhere in the state. To receive real-time updates about road conditions in your area, visit www.coloradodot.info and click on the green cell phone icon in the upper right hand corner of the page. Information about weekly lane closures will be available at www.coloradodot.info/travel/scheduled-lane-closures.html.