Mount Evans Road Opening Delayed
As of the end of day Monday, CDOT crews were able to clear six miles of the 14.7 mile-long roadway.
State Highway 5 typically is opened to the summit on the Friday before Memorial Day. However, despite the best efforts of CDOT maintenance crews to have the road cleared to the top of Mount Evans (14,264 feet), an additional four feet of snow has fallen this month, often canceling out previous clearing operations that began on April 28.
“Our crews have been working diligently to get the roadway cleared of snow and ice but we clear it one day and then the road is covered up again with snow the next day after another storm comes in – it’s been happening all month,” said CDOT Region 1 Transportation Director, Tony DeVito. “Most years, it’s not a problem to get the entire road open in time for Memorial Day but with the holiday occurring earlier in the month and the the wet, heavy snow we’ve gotten up there this spring, it has been quite the challenge.”
In addition to snow removal, CDOT’s emergency repair of SH 5 which started last fall will begin again next week. This project will stabilize the eroding roadway above Lincoln Lake. Approximately three weeks of work remain, with the job site just one lane wide. CDOT is looking into the safety and feasibility of re-opening this roadway to alternating traffic using flaggers on the weekends, but must ensure that the roadway will sustain traffic volumes. More information will be released as the project team assesses the area.
As of today, CDOT does not have an accurate assessment of a reopening date for the roadway.
Information regarding the opening and closing of seasonal highways in Colorado is available at all times on the cotrip.org website or by calling 511. Updates also are offered via e-mail and text message. Please visit www.codot.gov and click on the letter icon in the lower left-hand. The link takes you to a list of items you can subscribe to, including General Travel Information – Seasonal Mountain Pass Closures/Openings.
