Colorado Department of Transportation road crews work to clean up debris along a half-mile stretch of the Brooklyns slide on south Red Mountain Pass on Friday. The avalanche slide area produced an extensive amount of debris, such as limbs and entire trees, when it came down on the highway.

Courtesy of Colorado Department of Transportation

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Colorado Department of Transportation road crews work to clean up debris along a half-mile stretch of the Brooklyns slide on south Red Mountain Pass on Friday. The avalanche slide area produced an extensive amount of debris, such as limbs and entire trees, when it came down on the highway.

Courtesy of Colorado Department of Transportation

Red Mountain pass will remain closed through the weekend as state crews work to clear the U.S. Highway 550 of snow and debris from avalanche mitigation done earlier this week.

The Colorado Department of Transportation has two crews working on either end of Red Mountain Pass to clear snow. It hopes to have the pass open early next week, possibly Monday, said Lisa Schwantes, spokeswoman for CDOT.

The pass has been closed since 11:30 p.m. Sunday.

The highway department planned to conduct avalanche mitigation Saturday morning, and the results from that work will determine exactly how early the pass will be opened, Schwantes said.

Some parts of Highway 550 along the mountain pass are covered in 40 feet of snow and debris, Schwantes said. Conditions on the road have been tough on equipment, and high avalanche danger in the mountains has kept crews from working certain areas.

“The crews are working hard,” Schwantes said. “It’s been really, really tough conditions. It’s been a historical year for avalanches across the state.”

bhauff@durangoherald.com