The Blue Mesa Reservoir bridge on U.S. 50 is on track to open to limited traffic next week before the Fourth of July holiday, sparing travelers potential hours in detours, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
Repairs on the bridge started in May after state and federal transportation officials found a cracked steel girder during an April safety inspection and closed U.S. 50 between Montrose and Gunnison.
With the first phase of repairs complete, emergency vehicles and smaller passenger vehicles can start crossing over the U.S. 50 bridge on Wednesday, July 3 at 6:30 a.m., CDOT officials said in a news release.
County Road 26 will remain open and maintained as a detour for other vehicles, and Kebler Pass is now open as a seasonal route.
“We continue to work towards completing needed repairs ahead of winter,” CDOT officials said in the release. “Over the course of the holiday weekend, the bridge will be open for 12 hours a day, which we hope encourages tourism in this area as these communities are still very much open for business.”
From Thursday, July 4 through Sunday, July 7, one lane will be open and pilot cars will lead single-direction traffic across the bridge between 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., the release stated.
Starting on Monday, July 8, the bridge will be open twice a day and pilot cars will lead single-direction traffic across it from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and again from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., officials said in the release. Construction crews will continue to work on repairs between the openings.
Passenger vehicles, pickup trucks, vans, motorcycles and emergency vehicles can all use the bridge after July 3, but RVs, campers, motorhomes, tractor-trailers, buses and trucks pulling trailers — including boats, campers and side-by-sides — must continue to take the County Road 26 detour.
CDOT officials expect the bridge to be fully reopened during the fall of 2024.
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