Highway 50 Blue Creek Canyon Detour Info

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Latest Update as of April 6th:

Monday, April 10th

8:30 am to 7:30 pm - No loads over 10 feet wide. No loads over 80 feet in length.  Open to one (1) lane of traffic with two-way flagger operations throughout the day.  Plan for long delays of around 35-45 minutes. No nighttime closures on the 10th. 

Tuesday, April 11th

6:30 am to 2:00 pm - No loads over 10 feet wide. No Loads over 80 feet in length.  Open to one lane of traffic with two-way flagger operations throughout the day. Plan on long delays of 30 to 45 minutes. 

NEW CLOSURE - 2:00 to 4:30 pm - ROAD CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC for an extended 2.5 hour rock blast 

4:30 to 7:30 pm - Road open to one lane, alternating traffic.  

Wednesday, April 12th - Friday April 14th

Alternating daytime traffic from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm.   No loads over 10 feet wide. No loads over 80 feet in length.  Open to one (1) lane of traffic with two-way flagger operations throughout the day.  Plan for long delays of around 35-45 minutes.

Night Time Closure - April 11th, 12th and 13th:

Road CLOSED from 7:30 pm to 6:30 for rock work.  Traffic must take Hwy 92. 

Friday, April 14th - Monday, April 17th

Roadway open to two-way traffic with no delays beginning at 7:30 pm on Friday night through 8:30 am Monday - no width or length restrictions. 

NOTE:

Two remaining full day-time closures of US 50 will be announced 48 hours in advance and will include a single 2.5 hour daytime full closure for blasting and slope evaluation during non-peak, non-commuting hours. These dates have not been announced yet. 

Scheduled completion date:  July 2023

What is the Little Blue Creek Safety Project and Why the Closures?

CDOT and Central Federal Lands Highway Division are working together to fund significant highway improvements to Little Blue Canyon on US 50 between Montrose and Gunnison. The project is the result of a partnership with the FHWA-CFLHD and CDOT. Funding for the $40 million project is provided by a $20 million grant from the Colorado Federal Lands Access Program with CDOT providing a matching $20 million.  The project is also in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, Grand Mesa Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service.  

The overall goal of the project is to improve safety along US Hwy 50 in the project area and realign the road, widen the highway to two (2) 12-foot travel lanes with 4-foot wide shoulders. To do this, the contractor, will have to complete rock fall mitigation work and blasting through the construction zone which requires closures of US 50.  Due to the rock mitigation and blasting activities in the Little Blue Canyon area, US 50 must be closed to all vehicle traffic during these times.

What is the Detour Route? What About Hazardous Materials and Oversize Vehicles?

When US Hwy 50 is closed, local passenger vehicles and small trucks can use Colorado Hwy 92 as a local detour route.  All trucks and recreation vehicles OVER  70 feet in length must use I-70 to the north, US 160 to the south; or wait for one of the planned openings as shown on the chart.  Motorists traveling between Montrose and Gunnison should allow additional time due to the detour and restricted open times on Hwy 50. 

VEHICLES CARRYING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS OR OVER 70 FEET IN LENGTH  ARE  NOT ALLOWED ON HWY 92 DETOUR. The designated Hazardous material routes are I-70 and US 160 or vehicles will have to wait for the openings on US Hwy 50.  

Official Detour Information