And the West is History: North U.S. Highway 550 construction – 1963

Durango’s Animas View Drive served as the primary northbound route to Silverton until 1963. West Animas Road, now County Road 203, continued U.S. Highway 550 north along the west side of the Animas Valley. Over time, these original sections of U.S. 550 became too narrow and congested for growing traffic demands. This photo depicts a portion of the first 4.4 miles of the new four-lane highway. The construction contract was awarded for $727,000, with work completed within six months after commencing in June. An additional 4 miles, built for $800,000, extended the project to Hermosa as a two-lane road. That section required up to 15 feet of fill to elevate the roadbed above the 1911 flood level. – Ed Horvat for Animas Museum, edhorvat@animasmuseum (Catalog Number: 87.16.3, La Plata County Historical Society Photo Collections)