US 50 Bridge Failure Between Gunnison & Montrose

[thenetwork]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/2egZ9qEM852YaE3k6

The US-50 Bridge over Blue Mesa Reservoir is now closed "until further notice" due to a routine inspection which found "multiple cracks" in the bridge structure.

This is the only road that connects Gunnison and Montrose.

At this time the only way around this is either via US-285/US-24/I-70 to the north or CO-149/US-160/US-550 to the south.  Either detour will add "multiple hours" to drive time, depending on one's destination.

https://www.codot.gov/news/2024/april/us50-bridge-closed-west-of-gunnison?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1lVhiNCC6v-_JUnM7VXQCaislQlJbfLnml40qi5QDMzg3iDJtpFvvV4Wg_aem_AQCjCMc7I3D_v19gib9ABQ-pI_21BRuuxUrCIT27smkXV-v1EUhNu6ZN_Uj4owjGz8lc5VflfM3aYv7GQKmR774S

As it is early spring, the handful of local dirt roads are either still closed for the season or are still impassable for most vehicles (mud season).

[hbelkins]

On my recent trip, there were signs on US 24 eastbound between I-70 and Leadville warning of construction on US 50 in that area. I also think I remember seeing similar signs on US 491 in the Cortez area.

[The Ghostbuster]

At least this one hasn't collapsed yet. Hopefully they caught the defects in time and it will stay in one piece.

[thenetwork]

On my recent trip, there were signs on US 24 eastbound between I-70 and Leadville warning of construction on US 50 in that area. I also think I remember seeing similar signs on US 491 in the Cortez area.

That was for the Clear Creek Canyon rebuild and widening, which is just below (west of) Blue Mesa, which BTW is doing final paving and cosmetic work now. At least when they would close that section, you could at least go around it on CO-92 from Delta, which only added 60-90 minutes to your drive...Not 6-7 hours with this closure!

There are a lot of commuters who took this road everyday between Gunny and Montrose.

[JayhawkCO]

On my recent trip, there were signs on US 24 eastbound between I-70 and Leadville warning of construction on US 50 in that area. I also think I remember seeing similar signs on US 491 in the Cortez area.

That was for the Clear Creek Canyon rebuild and widening, which is just below (west of) Blue Mesa, which BTW is doing final paving and cosmetic work now. At least when they would close that section, you could at least go around it on CO-92 from Delta, which only added 60-90 minutes to your drive...Not 6-7 hours with this closure!

There are a lot of commuters who took this road everyday between Gunny and Montrose.

Hopefully mapping software doesn't route people over Engineer Pass as a shortcut.

[thenetwork]

Still no timetable on when the bridge "could" open.

https://www.kjct8.com/2024/04/24/highway-50-bridge-closure-meeting-recap/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1qbqptYzX3KrEaE6JPHkIug-aPl5T-K0BDrPgE7upkDvZR2Y5SdiEhJ_I_aem_AaaUU5Azc69OHa758frOmP9igpZmDARZC0RCzJ7V52gvYoftyb2QQK4GnxlncofIsmL9SF53UU2G_TeQcSKBuegf

[thenetwork]

So here is the latest, and it doesn't look good for US-50 regional travelers as it looks like the bridge may be closed all summer...

https://arkvalleyvoice.com/blue-mesa-reservoir-bridge-inspections-continue-work-will-be-months-long/

However, the Lake City Cutoff route is getting emergency upgrades to allow more traffic to safely use it.  But at the moment, there are only 3 times during the day to use it via pilot cars.  And larger vehicles (semis, RVs) will likely still be prohibited until the US-50 bridge reopens.

A second alternative, between Paonia State Park (CO-133) near Somerset and Crested Butte (CO-135) over Kebler Pass should be opening for the season within the next 2 weeks.  However, larger vehicles will likely be limited or prohibited on this route as well as it is a winding, narrow, mostly-dirt road.

[CtrlAltDel]

That was for the Clear Creek Canyon rebuild and widening, which is just below (west of) Blue Mesa, which BTW is doing final paving and cosmetic work now. At least when they would close that section, you could at least go around it on CO-92 from Delta, which only added 60-90 minutes to your drive...Not 6-7 hours with this closure!

That's exactly what I did a few years back. A wonderful drive, I thought.

However, the Lake City Cutoff route is getting emergency upgrades to allow more traffic to safely use it.  But at the moment, there are only 3 times during the day to use it via pilot cars.  And larger vehicles (semis, RVs) will likely still be prohibited until the US-50 bridge reopens.
 

Unbelievably, at least to me, Lake City Cutoff seems to be open to all traffic except oversize and overweight vehicles.