colorado dot travel information

To use this application please upgrade your browser. Popular choices are Chrome , Firefox , Edge , and Safari .

COtrip Planner

About this app

Data safety.

Ratings and reviews

• Flag inappropriate
• Show review history

What's new

App support.

COtrip Planner 4+

State of colorado, designed for ipad.

• 2.8 • 532 Ratings

Screenshots

Description.

The COtrip app is the Colorado Department of Transportation's (CDOT) official real-time traffic and traveler information app. The COtrip app provides statewide travel information for Colorado’s interstates, U.S. routes and state highways. It does not include information for county roads or city streets. Features: - Zoomable and mobile-friendly map display - Traffic speeds and road conditions - Real-time updates on road maintenance, construction, restrictions and road closures - Camera images and live streaming video - Trucker mode with resources specific to commercial motor vehicle operators - Winter weather conditions (seasonal) - Plow tracker - Hands-free, eyes-free feature to announce upcoming road conditions that will impact your route Please Note: Continued use of GPS running in the background can decrease device battery life. Drop the Distraction The primary responsibility of every driver is the safe operation of their vehicle. While traveling, mobile communication devices should be used only when the motor vehicle is at a complete stop off the traveled portion of the roadway. Do not text and drive (it's against the law) or use this app while driving. For more information about distracted driving in Colorado and safety tips, visit https://distracted.codot.gov. Feedback We welcome your feedback on this app. Please send your suggestions, questions or concerns in an email to [email protected]. For tutorials and more information, visit COtrip.org. CDOT Privacy Policy: https://codot.gov/topcontent/privacypolicy

Version 4.5

Emphasize high impact events in search results Map decluttering improvements Add safe driving pop-up

Ratings and Reviews

532 Ratings

Great App… BUT

We love this app, and use it all the time! It only has one MAJOR thank you flaw! The colors on the map for road conditions are to close, and therefore, are very hard to distinguish, especially for those with vision issues. Please fix this and choose bright colors that are very different from each other for each of the road conditions. If that is done, this app immediately becomes a 5 Star App! Until then, it gets a three… Barely!

Developer Response ,

Thank you - we appreciate your comments! This feedback is helpful as we continue to improve our system.

Front Range/ West Side Story

COTrip. Org is my go to whether planning a trip or for a last minute run to Denver International Airport. Having to cross the Rockies over a high pass and a tunnel/ pass does make it interesting. Not to mention that the drive takes you through very popular ski areas (cross roads to even more of them and other outdoor destinations,) and it’s the heart of the commercial route from the eastern and western part of our nation. For all of these reasons and because of our extreme weather I use the CO trip website (and the the trip planner, now!) There have been times that weather has caused delays but we have the resource in this service to make informed decisions and arrive to our destination safely, albeit a little late. Other road conditions and closures can be monitored on the maps many layers, as well as, on cameras along the route. For all these reasons COTrip is a godsend and a very import state service. Add a thermos of coffee and appropriate sound track and I’m ready to go.

Two levels of terrible

There are two levels of terrible here. One is the app itself. The user interface designers made inexplicable choices. More importantly, CDOT’s data flow into this system makes the app mostly worthless. The timeliness, quality, and quantity of information CDOT feeds into the system of their lit road information signs, website, and app means that even a finely polished app would be useless. I get it. It’s challenging. CDOT is one thing, local dispatch another, reality on the ground yet a third. But CDOT is mostly useful as an agency for awarding various contracts (including to make an app). The actual value added by, say, having employees who can use their creativity and skills to integrate these data streams better to make CDOT’s road information system better, is close to 0. Don’t worry – CDOT can award a contract for that (to someone who doesn’t really get it).

Hi! Thank you for your comments - we are sorry to hear that your experience using the COtrip app has been a terrible one. We'd love to learn more about how you are using the app so we can get you the information you need. Please reach out to [email protected] if you are willing to chat.

App Privacy

The developer, State of Colorado , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Not Collected

The developer does not collect any data from this app.

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

• Developer Website
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

More By This Developer

Health First Colorado

MyCOBenefits

You Might Also Like

Denver Trash and Recycling

WasteConnect

National Forest Explorer

Totality by Big Kid Science

CDOT launches new, user-friendly road condition…

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Business and Ag
• Marketplace

Latest Headlines

Cdot launches new, user-friendly road condition and travel planner website and mobile app.

New features to the interactive map on the Colorado Department of Transportation’s COtrip.org are intended to make it easier for drivers to safely navigate Colorado roads.

CDOT  launched the updated website Sept. 29, touting new tools that will help travelers plan their route in advance and be prepared for road or lane closures or adverse road conditions. COtrip.org has been in use for nearly two decades.

“This is an exciting time for our agency,” said Bob Fifer, CDOT’s branch manager of the Intelligent Transportation Systems & Network Services. “We are evolving legacy systems to better serve the traveling public. The new website brings more of our transportation technologies into one lense, improving the customer experience. We added several new features, while reducing system maintenance costs. Now, travelers can customize routes from point A to point B to see if their trip may be impacted by any road or lane closures. Motorists will have an easier time identifying road closures, road conditions and construction impacts, all while replacing outdated technologies.”

The new website incorporates the following new features:

Traveler Information & Layers

The COtrip website is powered by a dynamic Google Map™. Motorists can use the map as they would any Google map and click on the icons for more information. Icons are displayed on the map by checking or unchecking the boxes in the layers toolbar. Layers available and what data they provide are described here.

Trucker’s Layers

The new Trucker Mode features resources specific to commercial motor vehicle operators, including the following layers defined here.

My COtrip & Travel Alerts

Motorists can log-in in or sign up here for their own COtrip account to subscribe and manage their travel alerts. They can also save their favorite routes and cameras, and customize their travel preferences.

COtrip on Social Media

COtrip traveler information is automatically posted to the @ColoradoDOT Twitter feed. New roadway hashtags and Twitter threads were rolled out in Spring 2021, making it easier for users to track and stay updated on closures and incidents from CDOT. Follow @ColoradoDOT on Twitter for real-time travel information and road conditions.

511 Telephone Service

The 511 telephone service is an interactive, voice-activated traffic information system motorists can access by calling 511 (within Colorado) or 1-800-288-1047 (nationwide). This system has not changed, and will continue to provide a real-time option for travelers to get road conditions and traffic information. Learn more about 511 and how to use this service here.

“The updated website will be a great new tool for the public, however, we also wanted to bring the same information to your mobile device. ” said Fifer. “With that in mind, we are pleased to announce that we are also launching a brand new mobile app on Oct. 1. Now travelers will be conveniently informed no matter where they go. We are committed to continuously improving access to highway information and technologies.”

The new COtrip Planner mobile app was designed to meet the growing trend of information on mobile and tablet devices for the traveling public. The COtrip Planner app provides statewide, real-time traffic information, and works on smartphones and tablets that operate on iOS and Android platforms. Download the app in the Apple Store or Google Play Store starting on Oct. 1.

The app will be fully implemented in three phases:

• Phase 1: Oct. 1

Traveler app with hands-free, eyes free functionality with customized CDOT layers now available

• Phase 2: Fall 2021

Winter-specific layers including weather warnings, weather stations, plow tracker with CDOT snowplow contest names, and Express Lanes

• Phase 3: Winter 2021/2022

My COtrip accounts integrated and new map search functionality, including event and camera clustering, predefined routes/areas, and adding an electronic sign layer

Social sharing of cameras and road conditions will also be available

• Future State

Turn-by-turn directions and recommended routes to user mapping app (Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze)

Alert banners and push notifications

Rockfall and wildlife reporting

The COtrip Planner app also includes a feature called TellMe, which enables app users to be hands-free on their route. TellMe detects the user’s current location, speed and direction of travel to announce upcoming road conditions and traffic incidents as they travel along their route.

“We want Coloradans and visitors to our great state to have all of the information they need to plan a safe trip, no matter where they go on our state highways and interstates,” said Fifer. “We hope all drivers will take advantage of the website and mobile app before getting into their vehicles for a safe and more convenient trip as both tools will help to eliminate any ‘surprises’ on the roadway.”

More in Local News

Logan County Commissioners discuss communications-related issues at work session

Local News | Three Merino High School students awarded prestigious scholarships

SUBSCRIBER ONLY

Local news | girl scouts pretty up pawnee lodge, things to do | things to do in sterling & logan county – april 23 – april 29.

CDOT launches new road condition and travel…

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Entertainment
• Marketplace

Breaking News

What’s quackin’ at estes park duck race 2024: an interview with big duck scott robbins, latest headlines, cdot launches new road condition and travel planner.

Off the Beaten Trail: A trek to America’s first national monument

Hike of the Week: Aspenglen Loop Trail

Off the Beaten Trail: A Park Worthy of the Gods

Community Gumbo Dinner adds kid-priced holiday vendors

Are you and your feline friend on the lookout for a new place to call home in Boulder, Colorado? Look...

When the time comes to bid farewell to a loved one, the support of a compassionate and professional funeral service...

Longmont, Colorado, nestled at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, offers a blend of natural beauty, vibrant culture, and community...

In Loveland, Colorado, leather goods are not just accessories; they are a statement of style and durability. However, even the...

In the heart of the High Plains, where the soil breathes life into every seed planted, lies a trusted ally...

Transportation | New CDOT travel app aims to make navigating…

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

Digital Replica Edition

• Latest Headlines
• Environment

Transportation

• News Obituaries

Transportation | New CDOT travel app aims to make navigating Colorado road closures, winter conditions easier

Free cotrip planner app integrates real-time information on iphone and android devices.

Navigation apps are hardly novel, but the Colorado Department of Transportation says its new offering for smartphones has something that Google Maps and others often lack: Real-time road information — direct from the source — that’s particularly vital for winter mountain driving on Interstate 70 and beyond.

The free COtrip Planner app, which launched Oct. 1 in the Apple and Android app stores, adapts the same road-condition and closure information that CDOT long has provided via its COtrip.org website . The website also has a more user-friendly refresh, and both integrate Google’s recognizable mapping interface as their backbones, with CDOT live conditions available as overlays.

The COtrip changes were the result of a $2.1 million state contract that also included an upgrade of CDOT’s Advanced Traffic Management System. That system feeds live data to its operations centers and plays a key role in management of highway incidents.

App users can plot out driving routes and see traffic buildups, weather conditions affecting travel, construction projects and partial or full road closures — along with stretches where chain laws are in effect. A “trucker mode” shows information specialized for big-rig drivers.

The app’s “TellMe” function allows hands-free use, with the app announcing upcoming conditions and incidents along the route or in the area. The app also allows users to view live road cameras on CDOT’s network across the state.

A drawback is that live road information is available only for state and federal highways, not local roads.

Later this fall, CDOT says, winter-specific features will be added including weather alerts and a snowplow tracker. While turn-by-turn directions aren’t yet available, CDOT says that function is expected in a future update.

The COtrip app enters a field that’s been dominated for years by Colorado-specific travel apps developed by private companies that incorporate road information provided publicly by CDOT. But while some of those stay up to date, others have sputtered or been neglected, making them unreliable.

One app by a private developer is called CDOT Colorado Road Conditions and costs $2.99 on the Apple App Store. Department spokeswoman Stacia Sellers said it has no official connection to CDOT, despite the name.

• Report an Error
• Submit a News Tip

More in Transportation

Transportation | U.S. 6 through Clear Creek Canyon closed Tuesday night

Transportation | Multiple overnight closures scheduled for US 6 in Clear Creek Canyon

Transportation | Nearly 600 flights delayed, canceled at Denver International Airport on Saturday

Transportation | One killed, two injured in crash on Berthoud Pass, U.S. 40 reopens

Take the Survey

Start the survey or pick up where you left off.

Lost your PIN? Request that it be emailed to you.

If you prefer to take the survey by telephone interview, please call the survey team, Westat, at 1-888-299-8606 .

The PIN you entered is invalid. Please verify the PIN and try again. (Your PIN is a combination of 8 letters and numbers.)

The Colorado Travel Counts is currently offline for maintenance. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please try again later.

The Colorado Travel Counts survey is not yet available online. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please try again later.

The Colorado Travel Counts is not yet available online. Please check back again soon.

Thank you for your interest in participating in the Colorado Travel Counts; however, the survey has concluded.

Thank you for your interest in participating in the Colorado Travel Counts; however, the survey is no longer accepting new participants.

#Verification Call is not completed. Please check back later.

Welcome to the Colorado Travel Counts

Help us improve transportation in your community.

To help us understand the transportation needs of your community, the Colorado Department of Transportation is asking local households to take part in Colorado Travel Counts. This important survey is conducted in regions across the state and helps build a snapshot of how, when, and why people travel in their daily lives. Regardless of the amount you travel and whether you travel by car, bus, bicycle, or other means, your input is vital. Information collected will assist decision makers in determining where to spend transportation dollars to reduce congestion, improve safety, and increase mobility options in your community.

Your Participation Matters

Click CC to view transcript in English (en) or Spanish (es). View the audio-described version.

We need your input so that transportation dollars are spent wisely.

Accurate information about how people get from place to place helps ensure that transportation funds are spent where they are needed most.

You can make a difference.

Your participation will help build a more complete picture of local and statewide transportation needs. This allows decision makers to more effectively target transportation improvements.

You are important.

Your household represents many other similar households across the region. Regardless of the number of trips you make and whether you travel by car, bus, bicycle, or other means, your input is vital.

Frequently Asked Questions

General information.

One of many data collection tools used by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to measure local, regional, and statewide travel and activity patterns. Survey results will help transportation planners determine how to improve roads and public transportation, reduce traffic congestion, and enhance walking and bicycling opportunities. The survey is being conducted in communities like yours throughout the state of Colorado. Households are initially contacted by mail and asked to respond to a brief survey about their household. Households are then asked to keep track of the places they go for one day, and to provide details about their travel. Some households may be given an option of reporting their travel for an additional 6 days, or more.

The Colorado Travel Counts is sponsored by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) ) with support from the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization , the Grand Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization , the Denver Regional Council of Governments , the Pueblo Area Council of Governments and Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments .

CDOT strives to create a safe, efficient and accessible transportation system that facilitates the movement of people and goods. Understanding how Coloradoans use transportation infrastructure is critical to this mission.

Colorado Travel Counts was funded with federal and state planning and research funds. Funds in this pool are not eligible to be used directly on road improvement projects. In other words, these funds must only be used to guide transportation investments.

Westat ( www.Westat.com ) is an industry-leading survey research organization with over 50 years of experience designing and conducting research studies in a wide range of subject areas. They have 20 years of experience conducting national, statewide, and regional transportation-related research. Their transportation survey team is responsible for administering Colorado Travel Counts.

You have an opportunity to help your community. A survey of this type is typically conducted once every decade. By participating, your household will be one of only 20,000 households representing our state. The information that you provide will help build a more complete and accurate picture of local, regional, and statewide transportation needs. Regardless of the number of trips you make and whether you travel by car, bus, bicycle, or other means, your input is vital to ensuring that transportation dollars are spent wisely. Households that participate in the survey will also receive a monetary thank you from Westat.

Because transportation impacts everyone, we have carefully selected households across Colorado to ensure that survey responses represent the diversity of our state. We strive to include residents from all regions, household incomes, ages, mobility statuses, races, disability statuses, and genders.

A household is defined as one or more related or unrelated persons living together in the same dwelling.

The type, amount, and timing of travel is often affected by household characteristics. Attributes such as household member age, gender, and employment status, the number of vehicles available, and the level of household income have a demonstrated impact on travel behavior. Knowing these characteristics is necessary to ensure that we are gathering information from a diversity of households and that the data collected can properly be expanded to represent the population.

No! Only selected households in the state who received an invitation in the mail are eligible to participate. If your invitation got lost in the mail, or if you heard about the survey through social media or a friend or family member, reach out to our team via Contact Us and we can look up your PIN code so you can join the survey.

The data collected from the survey will be summarized to describe household travel in the state. More specifically, information provided by participants will be used to determine the general activities people engage in, the times and means they travel to those activities, the types of places travelers are coming from and going to, and the extent to which trips are combined (for example, grouping together your errands). An anonymized, publicly-available dataset will be developed from this information but it will not contain any person names, addresses, place names or other personally identifiable information. For details about how the survey data will be protected, please review the Privacy Statement, below.

The information you provide will be used for planning, maintaining and improving our regional and state transportation system. This includes infrastructure such as freeways, highways, streets, sidewalks and bike lanes, as well as services such as transit. Survey data are also used by air quality agencies to better understand how motorized travel contributes to vehicle emissions.

Taking the Survey

Everyone's experience is a bit different, so the time needed to take the survey will vary. The number of people in your household, the number of trips made, and other factors determine the actual length of the survey. To get started, participants are asked to complete a brief 5-minute survey about their household. Then, they will be asked to tell us about the places their household went on an assigned day. This step takes about 20-25 minutes per household member.

No. Person names, addresses, place names and other personally identifiable information will never be shared with the public. Only summary information obtained from the survey may be included in publicly available documents. This might include, for example, statistics about transportation mode choices. An anonymized, publicly-available dataset will also be developed from the survey information, but it will not contain any person names, addresses, place names, or other personally identifiable information. As required by law, your specific activities and travel patterns will remain confidential, as will any contact information you provide (your name, home address, phone number, email address, etc.). We will only use your contact information to conduct the survey, or to validate or confirm your survey data.

Participation in Colorado Travel Counts is voluntary. While some questions are required for participation, you may decline to answer any question. Your privacy will be respected. As required by law, any information that you provide through this survey will be kept confidential.

A significant amount of travel is made by children going to and from school. Often, this affects the travel behavior of their parents or caretakers, not only as it relates to school trips, but how they plan other trips like grocery shopping and running errands. Knowing when and where children go to school and how they get there help researchers, planners, and modelers better understand household trip-making behavior. Getting children to and from school safely is a priority in all transportation planning.

No identifying information about your children is ever made available to the public.

One of the primary reasons for travel is to commute to and from work. A significant amount of travel is also made by people at work. Knowing respondents’ occupations and work locations helps researchers, planners, and modelers better understand how jobs generate travel.

Information about your occupation and work location is used for transportation planning purposes only.

On any given day, many households will have a “non-ordinary” travel day. But collectively, all these variations—less travel, more travel, and different-than-usual travel—balance out. So even if your assigned travel day is out-of-the-ordinary for you or someone else in your household, it is very important that you report what actually occurred on the assigned day. Please do not be tempted to report more or less trips than you actually made on the travel day.

You will be asked to use the travel logs, or smartphone app, just as if you were traveling within your region. However, if you know in advance that your entire household will not be in the state at all on your assigned travel day, please let us know (Contact Us) and we can try to reschedule your travel day. If only some members of your household will be out of the state on your assigned travel date, we would still like to collect data from your household on that date.

Even if you typically travel very little, or not at all, we still need to hear from you! Some people feel that just because all they do is visit a friend or go to the post office, their information is not important. In fact, these people, and those who do not go anywhere at all on their travel day, are just as important as someone who makes many trips. If we include only people that go many places in the survey, we would over-represent daily travel. The purpose of the survey is to get a complete and accurate picture of travel in the area. So even if you did not go anywhere on the day you were asked to record your trips, we would still like to know that. Please do not report more trips than you actually made on your travel day or decline the survey because you do not travel a lot.

We are interested in all the ways that people get around—whether you walk, use the bus, ride a bicycle, use ride-hailing services such as Uber or Lyft, or drive a car, truck, or motorcycle. Even if you are homebound, we still want to make sure your household is included in the survey as it is equally as important as other households.

#Your Privacy

#App Name and the survey organization employing this app are committed to respecting your privacy. We do not sell any personal contact information. Your name and other identifying information will not be shared. Any information obtained by the app during the course of this survey will be with anyone outside of the organization running the survey to which you were invited to participate.

#Information that you provide will be combined with information from other participants. The results will be used by transportation planning stakeholders and policymakers. The data will be used for planning and research purposes only.

#Important Notes

• #Keep your WIFI on, even when you go out. It greatly improves the accuracy of the app.
• #Another important tip here.

Survey Hotline

Have questions about participating in Colorado Travel Counts or feedback about the DailyTravel mobile app?

Fill out the 'Contact Us' form to send a message to the survey team, Westat, or call their toll-free hotline at:

1-888-299-8606

Privacy Statement

The colorado travel counts is committed to respecting your privacy..

As required by law, any information obtained during this survey will be kept confidential. We do not sell any personal contact information. Your name and other identifying information will not be shared with anyone outside of the research team.

Information that you provide will be combined with information from other participants. Summarized results will be shared with the transportation planning stakeholders and the general public. The information will be used for planning and research purposes only. No personally identifiable information will be shared with the public in any datasets that are created.

We want you to feel secure in providing responses to our questions. Your decision to participate is voluntary and greatly appreciated. While some questions are required for participation, you may decline to answer any question.

For more information, contact us .

#App Terms and Conditions

Sign Up for Travel Alerts & News

My cotrip travel alerts.

Receive traffic and travel alerts via email or text for my saved routes and areas in Colorado. Special trucker alerts available for width restrictions, chain law enforcement, and other CMV information across the state.

Construction Updates & News Releases

Get emails about specific topics, including CDOT construction projects and regional/statewide news.

CDOT-OTIS Online Transportation Information System

CDOT Online Transportation Information System

This is the access point to information frequently used for transportation planning and project development. Information is provided on current and projected traffic volumes, state highway attributes, summary roadway statistics and geographic data.

What's new?

Colorado 511 Information

Colorado launched its statewide 511 service in Winter 2004.

• Colorado 511 Travel Information
• "Backdoor" Numbers: 1-877-315-7623 (in-State only), or 1-303-639-1111 (out-of-State)

County Road 26 opens to limited travel on Monday due to U.S. Highway 50 bridge closure

GUNNISON — This weekend, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Gunnison County officials have been working together to speed up improvements to County Road 26 so it can open on Monday.

Once open, this county road can be used for limited travel between Montrose and Gunnison.

According to a press release from CDOT, engineers are continuing to perform safety inspections of the U.S. Highway 50 bridge.

This bridge closed on Thursday, April 18, after an inspection revealed a crack in one of the girders.

WATCH: CORRECTION: A crack causes a bridge to close between Gunnison and Montrose

CDOT says that they recognize that the U.S. 50 bridge closure creates a significant detour for those looking to travel between Montrose and Gunnison which is why they have been working to get this shorter access route opened up.

They also say that their partnership with Gunnison County will continue as the county road is fortified with gravel and traffic is mangaed to a level that the road can safely withstand.

Starting Monday, April 22, pilot cars will lead passenger vehicles along the county road two times a day in each direction.

Because CR 26 is an unpaved, high-mountain road that was not built to accomodate the same amounts of traffic as the U.S. 50 bridge, travel times will be limited to

• 6:00 to 6:30 a.m. & 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. for westbound travel
• 7:00 to 7:30 a.m. & 7:00 to 7:30 p.m. for eastbound travel

Those looking to travel westbound can meet the pilot cars near the intersection of CO 149 and CR 26. Those looking to travel eastbound can meet the pilot cars near the intersection of U.S. 50 and CR 26. The travel time using this access route is expected to be 30 minutes or more.

Commercial vehicles over a 16,001 gross vehicle weight are prohibited from using this route.

County Road 26 will only be available for essential travel and only during the timeframes listed above.

During all other times the road will remain closed due to the ongoing restoration work needed to make sure that the road remains safe to travel.

The recommended detour for northbound travel continues to be via Interstate 70. The recommeded detour for southbound travel continues to be via U.S. 160.

These detours add six to eight hours of travel time.

For additional information about this project, you can

• visit the project website
• call the project team at 970-648-4423
• email the project team at [email protected]

____ Watch KOAA News5 on your time, anytime with our free streaming app available for your Roku, FireTV, AppleTV and Android TV. Just search KOAA News5 , download and start watching.

Report a typo

Sign up for the Breaking News Newsletter and receive up to date information.

Now signed up to receive the breaking news newsletter..

News5 Mobile App

CDOT devoting all available resources to US 50 bridge

News release.

Montrose and Gunnison Counties — County Road 26 opened this morning to provide immediate relief for local commuters as Colorado Department of Transportation crews continue inspecting the bridge that crosses Blue Mesa Reservoir at Dillon Pinnacles and working with a team of experts on long-term repair solutions. Limited travel on the local access road went smoothly and will continue Tuesday.

A snooper truck, an underbridge inspection bucket truck, staged on top of the bridge that crosses is helping inspectors get a better look at the underside of the bridge while two CDOT rope teams hang from the side of the structure to grind away paint for a better look at weld joints and potential defects. Representatives from several engineering firms are evaluating inspection results for the bridge at Dillon Pinnacles to determine the best course of action for repairing the structure. This bridge was closed Thursday, April 18, in the interest of public safety, and there is no timeframe for when it might reopen. The bridge’s technical designation is K-07-B is also informally referred to as the “middle bridge” on the reservoir.

Along with these ongoing inspection efforts, CDOT is working directly with Gunnison, Hinsdale and Montrose counties to maintain local services as best as possible. This includes coordinating with local emergency service agencies, school districts, propane delivery companies and postal services.

Pilot car operations on the County Road 26 local access route will continue twice daily in each direction. Because CR 26 is a high-mountain, unpaved road that is not intended to accommodate the traffic volumes of US 50, travel times will be limited and commercial vehicles exceeding a 16,001 gross vehicle weight rating are prohibited. Trailers of any kind are also prohibited from using this route. The schedule for piloted travel is:

• 6 to 6:30 a.m. and 6 to 6:30 p.m. for westbound travel
• 7 to 7:30 a.m. and 7 to 7:30 p.m. for eastbound travel

County Road 26 will only be open for local, essential travel during these timeframes. The road will remain closed at all other times for the ongoing restoration work needed to ensure the road remains safe for travel.

A hotline and email continue to be in place to assist customers with questions about the closure. Anyone with questions can reach out via 970-648-4423 or [email protected] . Calls will be closely monitored and will receive a prompt reply. Information is also available on the website at bit.ly/us50bridge . Travelers should refer to COtrip.org or the smartphone COtrip Planner app to plan an alternate route.

There are two recommended detours for through travel via Interstate 70 to the north or US 160 to the south and these detours add six to eight hours of travel time.

Contact Information

For additional information about this project:

• Call the project information line at 970-648-4423
• Email the project team at: [email protected]
• Visit the project website at: bit.ly/us50bridge
• Fact Sheet: County 26 Local Access

Know Before You Go

Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts and anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:

• Road conditions and travel information: COtrip.org
• Download the COtrip Planner app: bit.ly/COtripapp
• Sign up for project or travel alerts: bit.ly/COnewsalerts
• See scheduled construction lane closures: bit.ly/laneclosures
• Connect with @ColoradoDOT on social media: Twitter , Facebook , Instagram and YouTube

Download the COtrip App!

The new free COtrip Planner mobile app was designed to meet the growing trend of information on mobile and tablet devices for the traveling public. The COtrip Planner app provides statewide, real-time traffic information, and works on mobile devices that operate on the iOS and Android platforms. Visit the Google Play Store (Android devices) or the Apple Store (iOS devices) to download!