Intermittent closures set for US 50 Monarch Pass

August 1, 2019 - Southwestern Colorado

CHAFFEE COUNTY — Next week, travelers can expect delays on US Highway 50 Monarch Pass, about 15 miles west of Poncha Springs. Periodic closures are needed for rock scaling (removal of loose rock along the slope) and helicopter operations to drop in materials associated with a project on the pass. The project, also starting this week, will provide the installation of new remote avalanche control equipment at a known snow slide path near the Monarch Ski Area, between mile points 201 and 202.

TRAVEL IMPACTS 

  • Wednesday, August 7 through Friday, August 9, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., three days of intermittent full closures will occur.

  • Motorists traveling both eastbound and westbound will encounter periodic closures of no more than 20-minutes throughout the day. Otherwise traffic will be let through as normal.

  • After this three-day project mobilization period, minimal traffic impacts are expected as most project work is taking place off the highway. 

  • Any future traffic impacts will be announced to the public the week before the closures are scheduled, for the duration of this three-month project.

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Project Location Map

PROJECT INFORMATION