TRAVEL ALERT: CDOT to implement safety closure on CO 82/Independence Pass tonight

LAKE/PITKIN COUNTIES –Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) crews will close the gates on CO 82/Independence Pass tonight around 7:00 p.m. due to inclement weather forecasted for the higher elevations. Crews have been plowing the scenic highway in an effort to keep Independence Pass open during the Grand Avenue Bridge closure occurring 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,” said Tim Holbrook, CDOT Supervisor.   “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,” he said.

Closure dates for the past six years:

2011 November 2

2012 November 9

2013 November 4

2014 November 12

2015 November 4

2016 November 17

NOTE FOR MOTORISTS: 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.

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.

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.

TRAVELER ALERTS: Motorists are encouraged to check for updates on the status of Independence Pass at our traveler information website, www.cotrip.org by calling 511 from anywhere in the state. Updates are also available via Twitter @coloradodot and be sure to “Like” us on Facebook.