US 50 MP 123 -127 is OPEN to two lanes of traffic with no delays until the Spring of 2023. Work will continue in the Spring of 2023 through the Summer of 2023. There is no specific Spring start date announced at this time. Please use caution when traveling through the project.
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
