US 550 opened on Tuesday at approximately 5 p.m.

Travel Advisory

October 15, 2024 - Southwestern Colorado - Evening commuters between Ridgway and Montrose can plan for normal traffic flows

Ouray County - The Colorado Department of Transportation opened US Highway 550 in Ridgway (Mile Points 104 to 105) at approximately 4:55 p.m. on Oct. 15. The highway was closed for approximately three hours, and traffic was detoured onto Colorado Highway 62 and County Road 24 between Dallas and Ridgway.

The highway was originally closed at 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon in both directions after a crash occurred between Terrace Drive and the junction of US 550 and CO 62.

Know Before You Go

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

Road conditions and travel information website: COtrip.org
Chain and traction law information: codot.gov/travel/winter-driving/tractionlaw
Sign up for project or travel alerts: bit.ly/COnewsalerts
See scheduled lane closures: bit.ly/laneclosures
Connect with @ColoradoDOT on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
Weather forecasts: www.weather.gov
Check avalanche conditions at CAIC: www.avalanche.state.co.us

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!