Wolf Creek Pass Reopens Soon
Limited traffic on U.S. 160 is expected by the weekend as crews repair flood damage in southwestern Colorado.
By Emmanuel Faure ·
Floodwaters from two recent storms have damaged key infrastructure in southwestern Colorado. Officials now expect to allow limited traffic over Wolf Creek Pass by this weekend.
Four teams have worked continuously since Monday to clear six to eight feet of rocks and mud from the west side of the pass. Julie Constan, director of region 5 for the Colorado Department of Transportation, described parts of the road where guardrails are hanging in thin air. She stated that while the trip will not be normal, the goal is to keep people moving.
The pass typically carries between 2,700 and 3,400 vehicles daily, connecting South Fork and Pagosa Springs. When closed, drivers must detour through New Mexico. CDOT prioritizes opening these roads with temporary repairs before winter arrives. Crews are using heating blankets and warming tents to work in dropping temperatures.
State officials are still assessing damage from the historic storms. CDOT initially requested $65 million in federal funds for repairs. Shoshana Lew, the department's executive director, said that figure will likely rise to the order of 100 million dollars. A refined estimate is expected in the coming days.
Long-term planning focuses on upgrading roads that are 50 to 60 years old to withstand modern pressures. For the Piedra River Bridge on U.S. 160, crews are tearing down the damaged structure to build an embankment for a temporary replacement. Materials for this bridge are being shipped to the area. Construction will take about 30 days once materials arrive.
State officials anticipate the temporary bridge will open with one lane in each direction by mid-January. The permanent bridge is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027. Lew said the department is consulting contractors to see if 24/7 operations can accelerate this timeline. Meanwhile, teams are repairing four severely damaged areas on a three-mile stretch of Colorado 151. They aim to allow limited traffic over that route by Thanksgiving.
Without Colorado 151, residents face a 3.5-hour drive from Durango to Pagosa Springs via New Mexico. Constan noted that the current detour adds about 45 minutes to that commute. Drivers can check cotrip.org for the latest road closure updates.
