CDOT maintenance on US 550, CO 145 affects Dolores County Feb. 3-6

Maintenance crews from the Colorado Department of Transportation carried out routine repairs and cleaning on two key high-country corridors serving Dolores County, prompting brief daytime delays for motorists. Work on US Highway 550 and Colorado Highway 145 was scheduled during daytime hours to take advantage of an unseasonably warm, dry outlook that allowed crews to perform crack sealing, sweeping and ditch cleaning.

On CO 145 between Telluride and Placerville, ditch cleaning operations took place between Mile Points 78 and 84. Additional sweeping operations were scheduled on Keystone Hill, approximately five miles west of Telluride, between MP 72 and 74. CDOT described those sweeping operations as mobile and said motorists should expect slower speeds; drivers were advised to "give themselves plenty of room between the sweeper and their vehicle (approximately 3 to 4 car lengths)."

Along US 550 between Silverton and Purgatory, crews focused on repairing and sealing cracks in the road surface along Molas Pass, MP 66 to 70. For both corridors the work window was set for Tuesday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., with the initial advisory covering Feb. 3-6. CDOT also cautioned that operations are weather-dependent and that motorists should plan for brief delays through mid-February if favorable conditions continue.

The timing and daytime schedule matter for Dolores County residents who commute to Telluride, travel to Silverton or Purgatory, or work in local tourism and service industries. Short slowdowns can ripple into longer waits at trailheads, at the base areas and for school runs, and they may alter delivery and maintenance schedules for local businesses. Because sweeping operations are mobile and generally avoid full stops, drivers should slow down and allow extra following distance rather than attempt to pass in narrow high-country sections.

For the latest real-time conditions, CDOT recommends using its traveler information tools, including the COtrip Planner mobile app, which provides statewide, real-time traffic information on iOS and Android devices; the app can be downloaded from the Apple Store or Google Play. Travelers may also use 511 or sign up for CDOT email alerts and follow the agency on social media for updates.

Expect maintenance to continue only in favorable conditions; if warm, dry weather holds crews may extend work through mid-February. For now, plan for slower daytime travel on CO 145 and US 550 and leave extra time for trips through Dolores County.