GUNNISON COUNTY, Colo. — Drivers in the Gunnison area will get extra times to use the Lake City Cutoff Road to get around a massive detour that was put in place when a bridge crossing Blue Mesa Reservoir failed inspection on April 18.
Drivers in the Montrose and Gunnison areas can access the cutoff road at CO 149 at County Road 26 for westbound travel. Eastbound drivers can get on the road at US 50 and County Road 26.
The existing times for local drivers to use the cutoff are:
- Westbound travel: 6:30 to 7 a.m. and 6:30 to 7 p.m.
- Eastbound travel: 7:30 to 8 a.m. and 7:30 to 8 p.m.
The new times being added are:
- Westbound travel: Noon to 12:30 p.m. and 8:30 to 9 p.m.
- Eastbound travel: 1 to 1:30 p.m. and 9:30 to 10 p.m.
Commercial vehicles exceeding 16,001 pounds and any kind of trailer are prohibited on CR 26. Aside from the limited morning and evening commuter hours, the department said, the road will stay closed at all other times for the ongoing restoration work needed to ensure the road remains safe for travel.
Last Friday, CDOT announced it was bringing in a private sector construction contractor to support inspection and repairs for the bridge.
In April, an inspection of the bridge that spans Blue Mesa Reservoir showed the structure had cracking. The bridge was immediately shut down in both directions.
For the first few days of the closure, anyone trying to get between Montrose and Gunnison would have to take a 300-plus mile detour either via Interstate 70 to the north or on Highway 160 to the south.
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