Bridge on Highway 50 closes west of Gunnison for safety concerns

U.S. Highway 50 is closed between Gunnison and Montrose for safety concerns, the Colorado Department of Transportation announced in a news release Thursday.

The Federal Highway Administration and state engineers urged CDOT to shut the bridge down after reviewing findings from a safety inspection, according to Thursday's news release. The Federal Highway Administration asked CDOT to inspect the bridge because of issues with similar high-strength steel bridges across the country.

CDOT said during a news conference Firday that it did the first inspection of the bridge Thursday, April 11 when it found a crack in the bridge. Crews then removed the paint and did ultrasonic testing of that section of the bridge where the crack was found. They determined the 3-4 inch crack was not just surface level but runs through the steel.

That's when they decided it posed a safety hazard and closed the bridge on Thursday, April 18. The agency pulled all of the inspectors off the bridge Friday morning as CDOT engineers complete a structural analysis.

Closing it down creates a significant detour for drivers commuting through Montrose and Gunnison, CDOT acknowledged. The agency recommended travelers find an alternate route, pointing to Interstate 70 to the north or U.S. Route 160 to the south as the best options.

"CDOT understands the inconvenience that this creates and is rapidly evaluating options to improve options for residents, businesses, and travelers on the western slope... CDOT and local partners are exploring whether it is feasible at this point in the season to clear local seasonal routes that may be able to significantly reduce the detour time for local travelers," the agency said in its Thursday news release.

These alternate routes are mostly gravel or dirt, according to CDOT, which creates a challenge with spring weather.

Crews are working on a detour at the Old Lake City cutoff once that road is clear of snow, the Colorado State Patrol said in a post on the social media site X.

But it is not currently open, CDOT clarified during a Friday news briefing. There are not any local detours at this time, CDOT said.

The agency is examining the bridge for more cracks than the one they deemed was a safety risk.

There are only two bridges made of this type of steel in the state of Colorado, according to CDOT Chief Engineer Keith Stefanik. The agency is focusing on the U.S. Highway 50 bridge first. Then they'll inspect the other bridge made of the same steel, approximately 2 miles west of Highway 50, CDOT said during Friday's news briefing.

While inspectors examine the structure, CDOT said visitors are still allowed to drive boats under the bridge on the Blue Mesa Reservoir. With it shut down to drivers, Stefanik said it's safe and stable as is. Engineers are more concerned about heavy vehicles putting pressure on the crack.

Denver 7+ Colorado News Latest Headlines | April 19, 7am

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