Locals can now use this road to bypass US 50 bridge closure

Morgan Whitley
·3 min read

DENVER (KDVR) — The Colorado Department of Transportation has good news for residents living between Montrose and Gunnison counties. A local access road will open Monday, significantly decreasing the detour around the U.S. 50 bridge closure.

On April 18, CDOT announced that a bridge, known as K-07-B that crosses the Blue Mesa Reservoir, would be closed after crews found a crack in the steel. The closure is in place on U.S. 50 from the intersection with Colorado Highway 92 at mile point 131 to mile point 138.

US 50 crack
US 50 crack

Due to the location of the bridge, drivers were warned that detours would be lengthy — up to seven hours long.

However, over the weekend, CDOT and Gunnison County worked to improve conditions on County Road 26, also known as the Lake City Cutoff, to open it on Monday.

“We are starting slow in order to increase the chances we can go faster later. The impact on western Colorado cannot be understated and we are exhausting all opportunities and partnerships to mitigate the impacts of the bridge closure,” said Martin Schmidt, assistant Gunnison County manager for public works.

Cracked bridge closes US 50 over Blue Mesa Reservoir

It must be noted that this access road will only be open for local and essential travel.

Access road allows travel between Montrose and Gunnison

On Monday, local commuters will be able to use County Road 26 to travel between Montrose and Gunnison.

Beginning Monday, pilot cars will lead passenger vehicles through the detour two times per day in each direction.

The schedule is as follows:

  • 6-6:30 a.m. and 6-6:30 p.m. for westbound travel

  • 7-7:30 a.m. and 7-7:30 p.m. for eastbound travel

Country Road 26 is not a permanent solution, CDOT says. The road is a high-mountain, unpaved road that is not intended for high-volume traffic. Only commercial vehicles under 16,001 gross vehicle weight will be allowed to use the road.

“County Road 26 is an important local route that is up to five hours more efficient than detouring via state highways. However, this road currently has a natural roadbed and can only accommodate limited traffic – so it is important that we help Gunnison County focus this capacity on the needs of local communities most impacted by the closure,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew

Drivers can line up for westbound travel near the intersection of CO 149 and County Road 26. Drivers traveling east can queue near the intersection of U.S. 50 and Country Road 26.

CDOT expects travel time to be 30 minutes or more.

Other detours around US 50 closure

The recommended detour for all other travel is on Interstate 70 to the north or U.S. 160 to the south. The northern route is 354 miles and takes around six hours of total travel time, while the southern route is 331 miles and takes around seven hours of total travel time, CDOT said.

See the latest traffic conditions in Denver on FOX31

While driving across the bridge is not an option at this point, CDOT said recreation on the Blue Mesa under the bridge should not be impacted right now, meaning those with boats can move across the reservoir.

Anyone with questions about the closure and detours can call the CDOT’s hotline at 970-648-4423 or email us50bridge@gmail.com.

Travelers are urged to check COtrip.org for the latest road conditions.

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