US 550 closed on Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for bike event.

SOUTHWEST COLORADO – The Colorado

Department of Transportation advises travelers that they will encounter two highway closures in southwest Colorado this weekend.

CO 145 ROCK FALL BETWEEN CORTEZ AND TELLURIDE

CO Highway 145 is closed indefinitely due to a significant rock fall which occurred late Friday afternoon. The slide is located approximately 12 miles north of Dolores, MP 22. The slide consisting of dirt, rock and two huge boulders which have destroyed the full width of the highway pavement, leaving a trench approximately eight feet deep across both lanes. The road is impassable at this time.

A geo-technical team, equipment and supplies are being mobilized to the site, but it is not known when the road can be reopened. A boulder, the size of a building, which remains embedded on the highway needs to be blasted into smaller pieces in order to move it off the roadway.

US 550 BIKE EVENT CLOSURE

Meanwhile, US Highway 550 north of Durango will also be closed for five hours tomorrow morning, Saturday, May 25, during the 48th Annual Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Motorists are urged to leave Durango early if traveling to Silverton or points beyond, since US 550 will be closed between Purgatory Ski Resort and Silverton from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Likewise, travelers heading south (out of Ouray, Ridgway or Montrose) on US 550 should be aware the highway will be closed at Silverton, also at 8:30 a.m.

Check out cotrip.org for further road information.