FYI - US 50 West of Gunnison Colorado Closed

[yeehastephen]

If you were planning to use US 50 thru Gunnison Colo to the Black Canyon or Montrose on your way to the Redmond Rally or Top of the Rockies, be aware that US 50 is closed at the Blue Mesa Reservoir bridge. Recent inspections found cracks in the bridge and there's no timeline for reopening. The detour is huge. (Unless you're willing to do some dirt going thru Crested Butte.)

The Black Canyon road is open using US 50 from the Montrose end.

Cracks in bridge over Blue Mesa force safety closure, cuts of U.S. 50 between Montrose and Gunnison

There is no timeline for the bridge to reopen.

www.cpr.org

SS

 

[gsinnc]

So looking at the map if I was planning to come home from Redmond and pick up 50 to 149 to lake city and Creede I need to change plans correct?

 

[52184]

So looking at the map if I was planning to come home from Redmond and pick up 50 to 149 to lake city and Creede I need to change plans correct?

If you are on a GS there’s the Blue Mesa Road, 25 & 25A, which hits 50 west of the closed bridge and ends up hitting 149 north of Lake City. I rode that two years ago in September and at that time the road was good enough for a dirt-experienced rider to tackle on an RT if one didn’t mind a little gravel and dust.

Best,
DeVern

 

[daveslash5]

I had planned to come home along that stretch of Hwy 50, but may head a bit south to 160, or north on I-70 to hit the Blue Sky Scenic Byway (highest road in the US) or if the weather is good try the Blue Mesa Road. Thanks for that info.

 

[limecreek]

If you were planning to use US 50 thru Gunnison Colo to the Black Canyon or Montrose on your way to the Redmond Rally or Top of the Rockies, be aware that US 50 is closed at the Blue Mesa Reservoir bridge. Recent inspections found cracks in the bridge and there's no timeline for reopening. The detour is huge. (Unless you're willing to do some dirt going thru Crested Butte.)

The Black Canyon road is open using US 50 from the Montrose end.

Cracks in bridge over Blue Mesa force safety closure, cuts of U.S. 50 between Montrose and Gunnison

There is no timeline for the bridge to reopen.

www.cpr.org

SS

Thanks for the heads up Stephen. This was one of my potential routes on the way back to TX. Kind of makes one wonder about the state of our infrastructure.

 

[52184]

If you are on a GS there’s the Blue Mesa Road, 25 & 25A, which hits 50 west of the closed bridge and ends up hitting 149 north of Lake City. I rode that two years ago in September and at that time the road was good enough for a dirt-experienced rider to tackle on an RT if one didn’t mind a little gravel and dust.

Best,
DeVern

I just spoke yesterday with a friend from Gunnison who rides US50 frequently. At present, motorcycles are being allowed to cross the bridge. That certainly may change once work begins on the bridge. But road 25, the Blue Mesa Road known locally as the Lake City cutoff, is being graded and improved as that will be the official bypass for the duration of the bridge repair. Based upon the condition of the road last time I rode it and the fact that it is being worked on to assure its use as a detour route, I personally wouldn’t consider the bridge project to be a route breaker.

Best,
DeVern

 

[ackme]

I just spoke yesterday with a friend from Gunnison who rides US50 frequently. At present, motorcycles are being allowed to cross the bridge. That certainly may change once work begins on the bridge. But road 25, the Blue Mesa Road known locally as the Lake City cutoff, is being graded and improved as that will be the official bypass for the duration of the bridge repair. Based upon the condition of the road last time I rode it and the fact that it is being worked on to assure its use as a detour route, I personally wouldn’t consider the bridge project to be a route breaker.

Best,
DeVern

The CDOT website only mentions CR 26 as being the alternate local route down to 149. That is east of the closure and CR 25 is west of the closure so it is unclear to me if it is getting the same treatment as CR26.

Keep in mind that currently access on CR 26 is limited to pilot car lead parades for only 30 minutes in each direction each morning and evening while they are working to improve 26. Also no trailers of any kind are permitted on 26.

Of course all this can change week by week as work goes on.

Significant additional resources in place as US 50 bridge inspection continues — Colorado Department of Transportation

www.codot.gov

 

[ackme]

I had planned to come home along that stretch of Hwy 50, but may head a bit south to 160, or north on I-70 to hit the Blue Sky Scenic Byway (highest road in the US) or if the weather is good try the Blue Mesa Road. Thanks for that info.

There is no shortage of scenery or fun roads in Colorado regardless of which route you take.

The trip up to the top Blue Sky at 14K feet is one of my favorites. Keep in mind you need a reservation to take the road from Echo Lake on 103 to go to the top (National Park Service deal- pretty easy to get online a day or two in advance mid-week). BTW 103 is awesome riding just by itself.

 

[52184]

The CDOT website only mentions CR 26 as being the alternate local route down to 149. That is east of the closure and CR 25 is west of the closure so it is unclear to me if it is getting the same treatment as CR26.

Keep in mind that currently access on CR 26 is limited to pilot car lead parades for only 30 minutes in each direction each morning and evening while they are working to improve 26. Also no trailers of any kind are permitted on 26.

Of course all this can change week by week as work goes on.

Significant additional resources in place as US 50 bridge inspection continues — Colorado Department of Transportation

www.codot.gov

Thank you, I stand corrected; I misunderstood my Gunnison friend. 25 is the Blue Mesa Rd, 26 is the Lake City cutoff and has been receiving improvements as the intended bypass. With pilot car.

But 25 is a more interesting ride, at least for us GS riders (and as I mentioned, it wouldn’t bother me to take an RT on that road, but that’s me). But 25 is probably still under winter closure, tho it does service a number of remote ranches along the way. And I doubt they’ll be putting pilot cars on it…

Best,
DeVern

 

[daveslash5]

There is no shortage of scenery or fun roads in Colorado regardless of which route you take.

The trip up to the top Blue Sky at 14K feet is one of my favorites. Keep in mind you need a reservation to take the road from Echo Lake on 103 to go to the top (National Park Service deal- pretty easy to get online a day or two in advance mid-week). BTW 103 is awesome riding just by itself.

Thanks,
I did not know about the reservation requirement. I will have to add that to my "do list"!

 

[glenfiddich]

UPDATE: I drove 50 over Monarch Pass today. Plenty of snow near the Pass but the pavement was clear, gravel-free, and in surprisingly good post-winter shape

I followed it to CO-149 which is where 50 is closed. There was no signage of a detour at that point, but hang a left onto 149 and proceed twenty miles or so to mile marker 97 where you’ll find multiple signs and an unpaved side road blocked off. A highway worker manning the choke point made sure i knew where I was going, then politely moved the barrier so I could proceed. It’s well graded dirt all the way to US-50 west of the closure. His opinion was that the barriers would be removed after some final cleanup of the road, but no timeframe was given

 

[lee]

UPDATE: I drove 50 over Monarch Pass today. Plenty of snow near the Pass but the pavement was clear, gravel-free, and in surprisingly good post-winter shape

I followed it to CO-149 which is where 50 is closed. There was no signage of a detour at that point, but hang a left onto 149 and proceed twenty miles or so to mile marker 97 where you’ll find multiple signs and an unpaved side road blocked off. A highway worker manning the choke point made sure i knew where I was going, then politely moved the barrier so I could proceed. It’s well graded dirt all the way to US-50 west of the closure. His opinion was that the barriers would be removed after some final cleanup of the road, but no timeframe was given

Good information

 

[gsinnc]

UPDATE: I drove 50 over Monarch Pass today. Plenty of snow near the Pass but the pavement was clear, gravel-free, and in surprisingly good post-winter shape

I followed it to CO-149 which is where 50 is closed. There was no signage of a detour at that point, but hang a left onto 149 and proceed twenty miles or so to mile marker 97 where you’ll find multiple signs and an unpaved side road blocked off. A highway worker manning the choke point made sure i knew where I was going, then politely moved the barrier so I could proceed. It’s well graded dirt all the way to US-50 west of the closure. His opinion was that the barriers would be removed after some final cleanup of the road, but no timeframe was given View attachment 97831View attachment 97831

That is great news! I just need to get to 149 and then plan on taking to through Lake City to Creede on our way home from Redmond. The 50 closure is causing us to loop up though Rangley and then come in from the east but not a big deal. I had heard the bridge on 149 was closed as well so it good to know it's open.

 

[lee]

I just need to get to 149 and then plan on taking to through Lake City to Creede on our way home from Redmond. The 50 closure is causing us to loop up though Rangley and then come in from the east but not a big deal. I had heard the bridge on 149 was closed as well so it good to know it's open.

Instead of going over Monarch Pass east of Gunnison, Cottonwood Pass and the road near Taylor Park reservoir is a nice route.




North Clear Creek Falls on 149 south of Slumgullion Pass is a nice stop.

 

[gsinnc]

I love 149 !!

Lee, is the road over cottonwood pass as you mentioned all paved?

I was thinking something like this??

Rangely to Creede

maps.app.goo.gl

 

[lee]

I love 149 !!

Lee, is the road over cottonwood pass as you mentioned all paved?

Yes, I think they completed the Blacktop paving around 2018 or 2019.
My picture was from 2020.

 

[lee]

I was thinking something like this??

Rangely to Creede

maps.app.goo.gl

That looks like a good route.
You can get high two times in one day

 

[dennypink]

For anyone traveling US Hwy 50 by the Colorado Blue Mesa reservoir, there have been some changes for that highway, and for the detour via County Rd 26. Both roads now require following an escort vehicle and available only during certain times.
Please look up: codot.gov/projects/us50bluemesa for the updated details.
DP

 

[52184]

For anyone traveling US Hwy 50 by the Colorado Blue Mesa reservoir, there have been some changes for that highway, and for the detour via County Rd 26. Both roads now require following an escort vehicle and available only during certain times.
Please look up: codot.gov/projects/us50bluemesa for the updated details.
DP

25 should be open now for those not wanting to play with pilot car or waiting, especially the GS riders.

Best,
DeVern

 

[riderr1150gsadv]

These were taken this morning on my way to the TOR rally in Paonia.. Both bridges are single lane btw.