PAGOSA SPRINGS, COLORADO — The Colorado Department of Transportation is warning truck drivers to expect extended detours and delays when traveling to Southwest Colorado, specifically Pagosa Springs and Durango, after recent flooding washed out roads and a bridge and caused full closures on common routes.
In a November 5 alert, CDOT asked commercial drivers to prepare for extensive detours. All drivers are asked to avoid downtown Pagosa Springs unless they are local residents or emergency personnel, because several city streets remain flooded.
“Truckers, please use alternate interstate corridors across Colorado, or in northern New Mexico, and avoid rural mountain passes and route via I-70 to the north or I-40 to the south. Stick to state-designated routes and build in extra transit time into your trips,” CDOT said.
Guidance for Truck Drivers
- Use alternate interstate corridors. Freight moving east to west across Colorado or northern New Mexico should avoid rural mountain passes and use I-70 to the north or I-40 to the south.
- Stick to state-designated routes. Drivers making essential deliveries into the area should avoid GPS shortcuts onto unpaved seasonal forest roads or rural county roads. Many backroads cannot handle heavy vehicle turning radii, have strict weight limits, or have shoulder damage, and some may have flood damage. Current conditions are on COtrip.org and the free COtrip Planner app.
- Build in extra time. Deliveries to Pagosa Springs, Bayfield, or Durango should allow for substantial extra travel time.
Detours
- Denver to Pagosa Springs (just over 8 hours): I-25 south into New Mexico; at Raton, take US 64 west to Tierra Amarilla; then US 84/64 north to Chama and on into Colorado and Pagosa Springs.
- Pagosa Springs to Durango, essential travel only (about 2.5 hours): US 84 south into New Mexico; US 64 west to Dulce and on to Bloomfield; US 550 north to Aztec and into Durango.
- Denver to Durango (just over 8 hours): I-70 west to Grand Junction; US 50 south to Montrose; US 550 south to Durango. Freight drivers should consider the westerly alternate via CO 145 through Telluride.
Flood Damage and Repairs
- CO 151 south of Chimney Rock (MP 27 to 30): Floodwaters washed out another section on November 1, about four miles south of the US 160 junction, within an active emergency reconstruction zone. Contractors are on site.
- US 160 Pagosa Springs to Durango (MP 121): Multiple sections along this 30-mile corridor need maintenance or emergency repair. The Piedra River Bridge, 18 miles west of Pagosa Springs, lost its support piers and needs a complete rebuild. Crews will install a temporary structure when site conditions allow.
- US 160 Wolf Creek Pass (MP 157 to 184.5): Closed from east of Pagosa Springs to South Fork. At least four spots along the 33-mile stretch have severe damage from flooding, mud, and rock slides. High water on the South Fork of the Rio Grande undercut the shoulder and lanes and washed out a segment about six miles west of South Fork, through The Narrows.
- CO 17 Antonito to the New Mexico state line (MP 0 to 39): Expected to open by the end of November 5 to restricted access only, with no through traffic. Repairs continue at several locations along Cumbres and La Manga passes. Drivers cannot cross the state line because of significant damage to NM 17 and ongoing NMDOT repairs.
US 84 south of Pagosa Springs is a high priority, and crews are working to keep it open. Two areas are under repair and stabilization, with flaggers or temporary signals guiding traffic. Drivers should slow down and use extreme caution.
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