The Colorado Department of Transportation will begin two months of road work expected to cause travel delays beginning Monday on Red Mountain Pass between Silverton and Ouray.
A CDOT travel advisory said the work will occur at two locations about 2 miles apart just south of Ouray. Repairs are scheduled for Bear Creek Tunnel at mile point 90.3 and retaining wall repairs are scheduled at mile point 88.6.
Travelers should expect full stops, alternating traffic and up to 20-minute delays, with full nighttime closures scheduled for late summer, according to CDOT.
The nighttime closures are “to help minimize lengthy highway closures during daytime travel for local commuters and tourist traffic,” the travel advisory said.
Work hours are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, and work may also occur during weekends. Access to trailheads and scenic overlooks will remain open. CDOT advised backcountry 4×4 travelers taking the Alpine Loop from Lake City to Ouray to heed traffic impacts.
The retaining wall at mile point 88.6 will be repaired and reinforced to support the roadway. Crews will drill stabilizing anchors into the wall and repair and upgrade the wall’s surface, which consists of cinder blocks, according to CDOT.
“Work at this location will ensure the retaining wall prevents soil erosion and protects the roadway from possible subsurface degrading due to water runoff or natural settling,” the advisory said.
Single-lane, alternating traffic will be directed by 24/7 traffic signals through the work zone.
Additional maintenance and repairs will be performed on Bear Creek Tunnel north of the retaining wall project. The advisory said drainages will be cleared, cracked walls inside the tunnel will be repaired, and concrete roadway panels will be replaced.
The work is intended to reduce icy and hazardous conditions inside the tunnel.
The advisory said Bear Creek Tunnel will have an 11-foot width restriction during the project. The tunnel’s clearance is 13 feet 9 inches.
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