A high-traffic bridge in Colorado has been closed indefinitely after anomalies were found on the structure during an April 18 inspection. With the closure in place, those traveling the major route that cuts across Colorado will be adding hours to their drive.
The bridge in question is one on US Highway 50, west of Gunnison and near the Dillon Pinnacles. It travels over Blue Mesa Reservoir, with the stretch of road serving as a key route between Gunnison and Montrose.
As those familiar with Colorado travel know, there aren't many routes across the state – basically I-70, US 50, and US 160, with quite a bit of separation between them.
Among anomalies that were identified were cracks in the bridge, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. The inspection that revealed the problems followed the discovery of known issues on similarly constructed high-strength steel bridges around the country.
The closure that's in place is between mile point 131 and mile point 138, though locals will still be allowed through the closure point to access their residences.
As a result of the closure, those traveling between Gunnison and Montrose will have to take a significant detour, with CDOT recommending travelers use either I-70 to the north or US 160 to the south. The I-70 route takes six hours, traveling about 354 miles, with the US 160 route taking close to seven hours, traveling 331 miles – much longer than the typical hour and 15 minutes it takes to travel the 65 miles between the two cities. CDOT is working to determine if local seasonal routes could be cleared in order to provide a shorter route between these two cities.
Find additional information here.
(5) comments
Time to repeal TABOR. We blew $3.3billion this year because some libertarian crusader in 1990 handicapped the state with ridiculous legislation. That $3.3billion should be put towards infrastructure to help us deal with the population growth we're experiencing. Instead, TABOR sees to it that everyone gets a bit more spending money instead of having enough teachers in our schools, solving homelessness, and keeping our roads from falling apart.
the denver influencers dngaf.
What a shame.........after nearly 3 years of COVID delayed and mismanaged construction on the hwy canyon in the area we have this? Totally unacceptable that that the bridge falls this far into disrepair before problems are found. It's not just here in CO......it is a national problem but extremely far worse in blue states like CO. Money for CDOT is NOT the problem. It's the allocation of those funds along with the hyper-left along the Front Range sucking up all the transportation funds for a feel-good light rail system that hardly anyone chooses to ride ....sickening
You are absolutely right TTG! Mis appropriated highway funds. Typical for blue states currently. Thank you Polis and the state legislature. Not!!
................and that totally inept out of her league Shoshani Lew who's been the exec director under Polis is just stunning. She brags about insuring there will be no more freeway expansion etc. She is so, so, so far over her head.
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