US 550 Red Mountain Pass scheduled to close

Travel Advisory

December 5, 2023 - Southwestern Colorado - CDOT maintenance teams perform safety critical operations beginning at 9 a.m. tomorrow

Southwest Colorado — The Colorado Department of Transportation will perform winter maintenance operations on US Highway 550 between Ouray and Silverton tomorrow, Wed., Dec. 06. Operations will require intermittent highway closures between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. Motorists can expect multiple 30-minute delays to take place for much of the morning.

Traffic Impacts

Winter maintenance operations scheduled for Wednesday, December 6 between 9 a.m. and noon

  • Northbound travelers will encounter a closure near Ironton Park (Mile Point 87)
  • Southbound travelers will encounter a closure at the Bear Creek Bridge (Mile Point 90.5)
  • Motorists will be guided by flaggers through the closure points

The exact times of opening the highway is not known and the intermittent closures may be required for much of the morning. Motorists should plan ahead, allow for extra travel time, or arrive and drive through the closure points before the designated closure times.

Visit COtrip.org for the latest information on road closures and conditions.

US 550 Winter Maintenance Alert Map
Colorado Department of Transportation Winter Maintenance Alert Map showing closure points located on US 550 between Ouray and Silverton from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (noon) on December 6, 2023.

Know Before You Go

Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts and anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:

Remember: Slow For The Cone Zone

The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones.

  • Do not speed in work zones. Obey the posted speed limits.
  • Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected.
  • Watch for workers. Drive with caution.
  • Don't change lanes unnecessarily.
  • Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones.
  • Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you.
  • Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.
  • Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
  • Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.
  • Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so.
  • Be patient!

Download the COtrip App!

The new free COtrip Planner mobile app was designed to meet the growing trend of information on mobile and tablet devices for the traveling public. The COtrip Planner app provides statewide, real-time traffic information, and works on mobile devices that operate on the iOS and Android platforms. Visit the Google Play Store (Android devices) or the Apple Store (iOS devices) to download!