Safety closures planned for Molas Pass and Red Mountain Pass this morning
Travel Advisory
SOUTHWEST COLORADO ― CDOT will perform winter maintenance operations on US Highway 550 Molas Pass and Red Mountain Pass this morning. Avalanche control work will require full lengthy closures of two hours or more at each of the passes. Please be aware these closures may be extended should unusual circumstances arise.
⚠️ US 550 Molas Pass - Beginning at 8:30 a.m. southbound motorists will be stopped at Silverton. Northbound Motorists will be stopped near Molas Lake.
⚠️ US 550 Red Mountain Pass - beginning at 8:30 a.m. Northbound and southbound travelers will be stopped near the pass summit.
Travelers are urged to use caution and consider delaying travel plans this morning, with significant amounts of snowfall being reported across the region. Snow accumulations being reported by maintenance patrols throughout the region include:
- Towns of Durango, Bayfield & Pagosa Springs: 6”
- US 550 mountain corridor
- Rockwood: 20
- Coal Bank Pass: 20”
- Molas Pass: 16”
- Red Mountain Pass: 14”
- US 160 corridor
- US 160 Hesperus: 14”
- US 160 Wolf Creek Pass:16”
- CO 145 Rico: 24”
- CO 17 Cumbres and La Manga Passes: 18”
- US 50 Monarch Pass: 7"
Know Before You Go
Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts, anticipated travel impacts, and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:
- Travel webpage: COtrip.org
- Mobile app: COtrip Planner
- Check avalanche conditions at CAIC: www.avalanche.state.co.us
- Phone hotlines for road and weather conditions: 511 or 303-639-1111
- Sign up for project or travel alerts: bit.ly/COalerts
- Subscribe to construction updates & news releases: subscription.cotrip.org
- Follow social media: Twitter (@coloradodot) and Facebook (facebook.com/coloradodot)
