Major Highway Impact for Today’s Pro Challenge

GUNNISON — Stage Three of the USA Pro Challenge is taking the riders 96 miles from Gunnison over 11,312 foot Monarch Pass to Salida, and then back to Monarch Pass, with a finish atop Monarch Mountain.

Today’s route will impact the following state highways and county roads between10:55 a.m. and 6 p.m.:

Ø  STATE: U.S. 50 from Gunnison to U.S. 285 in Poncha Springs; traffic stops on northbound and southbound U.S. 285 at U.S. 50 and on State Highway (SH) 291 (West 1^st Street in downtown Salida).

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING RESTRICTIONS:

U.S. 50 will be closed to all traffic today - Eastbound from State Highway 114 at10:55 a.m.; westbound from U.S. 285 in Poncha Springs at 11:25 a.m.  ALL Highway 50 traffic will be detoured to SH 114 over North Pass and through Saguache, a detour of approximately 50 miles.  This detour remains in effect until about 6 p.m.  In addition, ALL oversized and hazardous material trucks will be held at staging areas in Gunnison and Poncha Springs beginning at 8 a.m. and have to remain at the staging area until approximately 6 p.m.

Ø  LOCAL: Various streets in Gunnison, including SH 135 (Main Street), Chaffee County Roads 120, 146, and 140.

To help motorists navigate the various state and local roadways for the next seven days, the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) website www.cotrip.org will have information regarding highway closures, delays, oversize and overweight restrictions, suggested alternative routes, and answers to frequently asked questions. Links to the host city websites also are provided, offering information regarding local road closures and long-term parking availability.  Delay and closure times are estimates only and subject to change depending on the pace of the race, weather, and other unanticipated conditions.

For real-time information related to highway impacts, motorists are encouraged to sign up for CDOT’s email and text alerts, available at www.coloradodot.info by clicking on the green cell phone icon.  In addition to the cotrip.org website, daily road closure information will be available by calling 511 from anywhere in the state. Following CDOT on Twitter (@coloradodot) also provides current updates.

Tomorrow’s Highway Impacts:

Aug. 21/Stage 4/Colorado Springs Circuit: Numerous streets within the city.  Ramp closures at Interstate 25/Bijou Interchange; U.S 24 Business (Colorado Avenue) closed between 30^th Street and downtown.

CDOT is distributing race information the morning of each stage, with any necessary updates regarding impacts to the state highway system.

Additional spectator information is available at the Pro Challenge website www.usaprocyclingchallenge.com, and on host city and town websites.