US Highway 550 Red Mountain Pass, which connects Silverton and Ouray in southwest Colorado, will be closed for critical winter maintenance on Saturday, December 6, and Tuesday, December 9. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) announced these closures to allow crews to address safety concerns due to snow conditions.
On Saturday, maintenance operations will start at 8 a.m. between Mile Points 80 and 81. CDOT expects minor traffic impacts but warns motorists of delays that could last up to 40 minutes throughout the morning. Northbound drivers will face a closure about ten miles north of Silverton at Mile Point 80.9, while southbound travelers will encounter a closure roughly twelve miles south of Ouray at Mile Point 81.5.
The second closure is scheduled for Tuesday, December 9. Weather permitting, more extensive maintenance will take place along the southern summit of Red Mountain Pass between Mile Points 75 and 79. Starting at 10 a.m., US 550 will close in both directions for an estimated four hours. Northbound vehicles will stop about five miles north of Silverton near Ophir Pass Road (Mile Point 75.2), while southbound vehicles must halt approximately fourteen miles south of Ouray between Ironton and Chattanooga Mine (Mile Point 79.2). CDOT advises motorists not to attempt bypassing closure gates.
During these closures, parking or recreating between closure points is prohibited. Backcountry users are required to remove their vehicles and leave the area before the scheduled times.
CDOT also cautions that additional maintenance work or emergency safety closures may occur throughout the winter season as weather conditions demand on highways across southwest Colorado. Travelers are encouraged to check COtrip.org for real-time updates on road status and traffic impacts.
For those seeking alternate routes during the US 550 closures, CDOT recommends using CO Highway 145 through Lizard Head Pass—a detour that adds about one hour of travel time for trips between Durango and Ridgway via US160 from Durango to Mancos; CO184 from Mancos to Dolores; CO145 from Dolores to Placerville; and CO62 from Placerville to Ridgway.
“Each year, US 550 Red Mountain Pass requires planned closures that allow maintenance operators the space they need to safely mitigate potential highway hazards,” according to CDOT.
Motorists are advised to plan ahead and adjust their schedules accordingly if traveling in this region during early December.
