Highway 3 in Durango closes 24/7 for two-week rockfall mitigation March 9-23

Specialized geotechnical crews will perform rock scaling and blasting along the east cliffside of Colorado Highway 3 in Durango, prompting a coordinated closure of the southern section of CO 3. The Colorado Department of Transportation will close the southern section of Colorado Highway 3 in Durango for approximately two weeks.

Beginning Monday, March 9, crews will work along the cliffside; CDOT’s map states, "The closure will be in place 24/7 from March 9 to 20." The releases describe the work as rockfall mitigation carried out by specialized geotechnical teams and frame the schedule as continuous operations during that window.

The closure affects the stretch of CO 3 between the US 160 Junction, near Walmart, and the southern intersection of Sawmill Road, south of Animas Surgical Hospital. "Highway 3 will be closed to through traffic 24/7 between the US 160 Junction, near Wal-Mart, and the southern intersection of Sawmill Road, south of Animas Surgical Hospital," and "Local traffic will be allowed for all businesses on Highway 3 and Sawmill Road."

Motorists seeking access from the north end of the highway are directed to an alternate route: "Motorists should use the alternate route of US Highway 160/550 (Camino Del Rio), Larry Valdez Way and East Eighth Avenue to access businesses on Highway 3 and Sawmill Road from the north end of the highway." The Colorado Department of Transportation also warned that "The right turn lane, just south of the high bridge, from US 160 onto CO 3 will be closed," which will affect drivers turning onto CO 3 near the high bridge landmark.

Trail users need not detour around the project footprint: "The Carbon Junction trailhead will remain open during the project. Trail users can access the trailhead and its parking area via Dominguez Drive and the Carbon Junction frontage road." That access is separate from the business-access detour and is intended to keep Carbon Junction users from being routed through the work zone.

CDOT included visual materials with its advisory, including a map showing the March 9 to 20 closure window and an image captioned "Fallen rock next to highway. An excavator is in the background." Travelers are urged to plan ahead: "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 also highlighted traveler tools and promotion to "Download the COtrip App!"

The notice was issued as a coordinated advisory between CDOT operations and the City of Durango; the City of Durango posted the release and listed Tom Sluis as the media contact. The Durango-area release characterized the schedule as "approximately two weeks" while CDOT’s map provides the more specific March 9–20 window; the releases do not name the contractor, specify blasting times, or provide contact details for Tom Sluis. CDOT’s map and the City of Durango notice are the sources for the closure and access instructions, and travelers should follow those channels for any schedule changes or updates.