U.S. 550 North of Durango Closed 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 29
Travel Advisory
U.S. Highway 550 will be closed north of Durango on Saturday, May 29, during the annual Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Motorists are urged to leave Durango early if traveling to Silverton or points beyond, since U.S. 550 will be closed between Purgatory Ski Resort and Silverton from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. to accommodate cyclists.
Likewise, travelers heading south out of Silverton, Ouray, Ridgway or Montrose on U.S. 550 should be aware the highway will be closed at Silverton. Motorists will not be permitted to continue southbound beyond Silverton after 8:30 a.m. The highway will reopen at 1:30 p.m.
Additional Travel Impacts in Durango
Also on Saturday from 6 - 9:30 a.m. motorists will experience traffic impacts to accommodate several biking race and tour start times, with cyclists set to depart from Main Avenue and 33rd Street.
Just north of Durango, southbound traffic will be diverted from U.S. 550 onto CR 203 at Hermosa Creek to Animas View Drive. Northbound traffic from Durango to Purgatory will proceed along U.S. 550 following traffic control personnel, signage, and cones set in place.
Plan Ahead
Friends or family members who have plans to pick up cyclists in Silverton are advised to allow ample time when departing Durango, since vehicles must pass Purgatory Ski Resort (located 25 miles north of Durango) before the road closes at that location at 8:30 a.m.
No work zones or construction projects are taking place between Durango and Silverton this year. For the past several weeks, CDOT maintenance crews have been maintaining and sweeping the highway to clear the road of debris, such as gravel and rocks.
Drivers are reminded and urged to watch for cyclists and drive safely for this event and other special events which may be taking place over the busy holiday weekend.
Alternate Route (see map)
Motorists with plans to travel on Saturday between northern communities (like Montrose, Ridgway or Ouray) and communities to the south (like Durango and Farmington), may want to consider an alternate route via more westerly highways. This alternate route will add approximately one hour of additional driving time, taking approximately three hours. (The U.S. 550 route from Durango to Ridgway typically takes two hours driving time.)
- CO 62 Ridgway to Placerville
- CO 145 Placerville to Dolores
- CO 184 Dolores to Mancos
- U.S. 160 Mancos to Durango
