Crews to Close Independence Pass (CO 82) Tonight Due to Inclement Weather

LAKE/PITKIN COUNTIES—Due to inclement weather, crews will close the gates on Colorado Highway 82/Independence Pass around 7 tonight (Monday, Oct. 30). Crews have been plowing to keep Independence Pass open during the Grand Avenue Bridge closure in Glenwood Springs. CDOT will continue to monitor the weather through next week to determine if the pass can be reopened.

"We will be monitoring this and future snow events, working with our local Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) forecaster, to determine when we can reopen the highway or how many days we can safely keep it open until the end of the season," CDOT Supervisor Tim Holbrook said. "We monitor data from the National Weather Service and the CAIC to make decisions on when the pass needs to be closed, not only for the safety of our CDOT plow crews but also the traveling public."

Alternate Route

The alternate route to Aspen during the months the pass is closed is I-70 to Glenwood Springs, and CO 82 into Aspen.

Seasonal Closure/Opening

The pass typically remains open until the first week of November each year, before the gates are closed on both the Aspen and Twin Lakes side of the pass. Typically, the pass is reopened on the Thursday prior to Memorial Day weekend, always weather permitting.

History

Independence Pass was carved out of the land by glaciers and the erosive action of the Roaring Fork River over thousands of years. It is the site of the first road in the Roaring Fork Valley, which was pioneered over Hunter Pass (the original name of Independence Pass) in 1881. An old stage road still remains visible from several locations. The road was built in its current location in 1927 and was paved in 1967.