Need to travel through flood zones in southwestern Colorado? Here are the latest closures and detours

The Colorado Department of Transportation is urging travelers to steer clear of downtown Pagosa Springs, unless they are local residents or emergency responders, as several area streets remain unpassable until floodwaters recede.

The town of about 2,000 people suffered some of the worst impacts from back-to-back storms in southwestern Colorado, where many washed out roads remain closed. The storms also destroyed at least one bridge. 

In a statement released by CDOT on Thursday, transportation officials said the closures continue to affect main routes. CDOT is working to keep U.S. 84 south of Pagosa Springs open, even with two stretches that road crews are repairing and stabilizing. Travelers will see workers on roadways or temporary light signals to direct traffic, according to the statement.

As of Thursday evening, at least four major highway closures were still in effect:

• Colorado 151 endured roadway damage in an active emergency reconstruction zone. Floods washed out another section of the highway on Sunday about 4 miles south of where Highway 151 meets U.S. 160. Contractors are continuing reconstruction and fixing the additional damage.
• Multiple areas along a 30-mile drive on U.S. 160 between Pagosa Springs and Durango need maintenance or emergency repairs. Among them, the Piedra River Bridge must be completely reconstructed after flooding caused its support piers to collapse. Crews will set up a temporary structure as soon as site conditions improve. The bridge is about 18 miles west of Pagosa Springs.
• U.S. 160 Wolf Creek Pass is closed for 33 miles from east of Pagosa Springs to South Fork, with significant damage from flooding, mud and rock slides in at least four spots. High floodwaters along the South Fork of the Rio Grande eroded the materials beneath the shoulder of the road, cut into travel lanes and washed out a corridor about 6 miles west of South Fork through The Narrows.
• Colorado 17 from Antonito to the New Mexico border is open to restricted access. Officials has not yet opened the road to thru-traffic, as crews address repairs at several places along Cumbres and La Manga passes. Vehicles cannot travel past the New Mexico state line because of major damage to New Mexico 17.

Travelers trying to get from Denver to Pagosa Springs can follow a detour that takes about 8 hours, according to CDOT. Drivers must take Interstate 25 south into New Mexico. Once they reach Raton, they must take U.S. 64 west to Tierra Amarilla, where they then take U.S. 84/64 north to Chama. From there, drivers can take U.S. 84/64 north back across the state line and into Pagosa Springs.

Motorists needing to get from Pagosa Springs to Durango — essential travel only — can take a detour that lasts about two and a half hours, according to CDOT. Drivers can hop on U.S. 84 south into New Mexico and turn right onto U.S. 64 west to Dulce. From there, they must continue west on U.S. 64 to Bloomfield, then turn right or onto U.S. 550 north to Aztec. Drivers will then continue traveling north on U.S. 550 back into Colorado and into Durango.

Drivers headed from Denver to Durango can access a detour that will take about eight hours. First, drivers must jump on Interstate 70 west to Grand Junction. Then they take U.S. 50 south to Montrose and finally travel on U.S. 550 south to Durango. CDOT urges freight drivers to instead use the westerly alternative route on Colorado 145 through Telluride.

Transportation officials also encourage drivers who must be out on roads to continuously monitor road repairs, closures and reopened stretches. It’s also critical to slow down in zones where crews are stationed along roads open to vehicles and pack extra snacks, water and warm layers as well as keep a full tank of gas, according to CDOT.

The agency urges freight and commercial drivers to opt for alternate interstate roadways, avoiding rural mountain passes. Commercial drivers heading east to west across Colorado or northern New Mexico should use Interstate 70 to the north or Interstate 40 to the south. They must also stay clear of unpaved, seasonal forest roads or rural county roads that might not be able to support heavy vehicles trying to turn, that have weight limits or have been left with shoulder damage or other flooding damage.

CDOT encourages commercial drivers on their way to Pagosa Springs, Bayfield or Durango to build in extra travel time.