Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera has verbally declared a disaster emergency after the U.S. Highway 50 bridge over the Blue Mesa Reservoir was closed last week. The declaration will help support the response and recovery with a coordinated framework for the statewide response to reopen the bridge. The declaration also initiated the process for requesting federal assistance which includes supplemental highway funding. The Colorado Department of Transportation shut down the bridge last week due to concerns for bridge safety after cracking was noticed. The bridge closure is located between Gunnison and Montrose from U.S. 50 mile marker 131, to mile marker 138. It is located east of the U.S. 50 Little Blue Creek Canyon project, which is currently in a 
planned winter shutdown. Gunnison County Road 26 is serving as a shorter detour twice a day for essential travel only with a CDOT pilot car leading the way. There was no time frame for when temporary or permanent fixes were expected for this bridge over the reservoir. CDOT recommended two detours for travel through I-70 to the north or US 160 to the south and these detours add six to eight hours of travel time.
The agency is also coordinating with emergency service providers to ensure emergency response is unaffected. This closure will create a significant detour for commuters between Montrose and Gunnison. CDOT understands the inconvenience that this creates and is rapidly evaluating options to improve options for residents, businesses, and travelers on the western slope. One of the most affected g
roups of this shutdown is students who use that bridge in their daily commute. kids had to take a 30 minute boat ride across Colorado’s largest reservoir instead of the bus, to join their classmates in Gunnison. Huddled down in the bow of the boat, children shield their cheeks from the freezing temperatures and whipping winds.
Requests for ferry services quickly poured in. One came from a family in Gunnison trying to get their son home after he visited his grandmother in Montrose. With the bridge open, that car ride would typically take a little over an hour. Fifteen relatives need help crossing the reservoir to get to their parents’ funeral in early May. Another family asked for help shuttling their dog across Blue Mesa. One GSO Fishing guide helped a group of people from Spain, who were biking to Las Vegas, across the reservoir with their bikes.
The northern route is 354 miles and requires approximately 6 hours of travel time. The southern route is 331 miles and requires nearly 7 hours of travel time. 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. CDOT has already approved an 
emergency request allowing up to $10 million for repairs and remediation. This week crews installed lightweight scaffolding to enhance access to the areas of concern on the bridge. The Department of Transportation has enlisted Kiewit Infrastructure for inspection and repairs on the project. Originally the bridge was closed on April 18th due to safety concerns, causing crews to conduct further inspections. The scaffolding now will allow access to previously inaccessible areas to help facilitate testing and repair planning.
