DENVER – Officials say Mount Evans Highway in Colorado will remain closed to vehicles for the summer as a result of health and safety concerns and economic difficulties related to the coronavirus.
KCNC-TV reports that the Colorado Department of Transportation, the U.S. Forest Service and Denver Mountain Parks jointly announced the closure Thursday.
The 14-mile section of State Highway 5, the highest paved road in North America, normally opens to vehicles between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. This year’s opening had previously been delayed until July.
Hiking and cycling are allowed, but the transportation department plans to conduct road repairs during the closure.
Reid Armstrong of the Forest Service said the highway is funded by fee collections and the agencies determined the cost of operating for a shortened season with limited services, additional employee protective equipment and reduced visitor entry would create a budget deficit.
“By not operating Mount Evans in 2020, 2019’s collections can be used to operate Mount Evans for a full season in 2021,” Reid said.
Officials were also skeptical about the possibility of managing social distancing at the mountain’s summit during the ongoing pandemic.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. The vast majority of people recover.
