Drivers planning to traverse Red Mountain or Wolf Creek passes Tuesday in Southwest Colorado should expect delays.
The Colorado Department of Transportation said avalanche-control work is required on Red Mountain Pass on U.S. Highway 550 and Wolf Creek Pass on U.S. Highway 160 after heavy snowfall the past few days increased avalanche danger.
“CDOT and the Colorado Avalanche Information Center have determined avalanche control operations are required to keep mountain passes safe for the traveling public,” the department said in a news release.
Delays between 90 minutes and two hours are expected on Wolf Creek Pass, starting at 6 a.m. CDOT said the delay may be longer “should unusual circumstances arise.”
Avalanche mitigation will take place on the west side of Wolf Creek Pass.
Eastbound traffic will be stopped near the Treasurer Falls trailhead. Those headed to Wolf Creek Ski Area from Pagosa Springs are encouraged to reach the Treasurer Falls pullout before 6 a.m. to reach the resort.
Westbound traffic will be stopped near the summit of Wolf Creek Pass. Skiers and snowboarders headed to the ski area will be able to reach the resort throughout the day since the closure point is west of the resort.
On Red Mountain Pass, between Silverton and Ouray, avalanche control work is expected to begin on the south side of the pass at 8 a.m. and continue much of the morning.
Delays of up to four hours are expected.
Northbound traffic will be stopped just outside Silverton, and southbound traffic will be stopped near the summit of Red Mountain Pass.
Red Mountain Pass was closed for about 16 hours, from 10:15 p.m. Sunday to about 2:30 p.m. Monday after two naturally caused avalanches reached the road.
Around 6 a.m. Monday, crews arrived on the pass and began avalanche mitigation work on both the north and south sides of the pass, triggering more than a dozen snow slide paths.
Schwantes said snow reached the road at many of the triggered snow slide areas.
Around 1:30 p.m. Monday, avalanche control operations were completed. CDOT sent out a news release around 2:30 p.m. announcing the highway was open.
Chain laws were in effect Monday afternoon for Red Mountain and Wolf Creek passes.
Commercial vehicles are required to have chains or alternative traction devices, including buses and vans that can hold 16 or more people.
Passenger vehicles must have snow or mud/snow tires, use chains or alternative traction devices, or have a four-wheel/all-terrain vehicle.
Previous chain laws for Coal Bank and Molas passes were lifted Monday afternoon.
Snowfall continued in much of Southwest Colorado on Monday, a continuation of a snowstorm that struck last weekend and dropped a good amount of snow.
Wolf Creek Ski Area reported 16 new inches from the storm, and Purgatory Resort reported 12 new inches.
The National Weather Service predicts the storm will leave the region this afternoon.
jromeo@durangoherald.com
