The Colorado Department of Transportation urges motorists and commercial motor vehicle drivers to prepare for extensive detours when accessing Southwest Colorado, specifically Pagosa Springs and nearby Durango. Recent flooding washed out roads and a bridge, causing full closures on common routes and significant repair delays along key corridors.
Motorists should avoid downtown Pagosa Springs unless they are local residents or emergency personnel, as several municipal streets remain flooded. For information on the Southwest Colorado flood response and recovery can be found at media.codot.gov.
Currently, CDOT is prioritizing US 84 south of Pagosa Springs and focusing efforts to keep this highway open. Two areas along this highway are undergoing repairs and stabilization. Travelers will encounter flagging personnel or temporary light signals guiding traffic. Motorists are urged to slow down and drive with extreme caution.
Extended regional highway closures as of Thursday, Nov. 5
Dozens of emergency closures have occurred across the region over the past two weeks. As of Thursday morning, Nov. 5, several major closures remain in place from prior flood events. Highway conditions update continuously on COtrip.org and the COtrip Planner app.
Note: COtrip does not report local closures within the city, county or forest road systems. For local road closures, please contact the relevant city or county road department.
CO 151 south of Chimney Rock (MP 27 to 30) - CO 151 sustained additional roadway damage within an active emergency reconstruction zone. Floodwaters washed out another section of the roadway on Nov. 1, approximately four miles south of the US 160 junction. Contractors are on-site to continue reconstruction and repair the new damage.
US 160 Pagosa Springs to Durango (MP 121) - Multiple sections along this 30-mile corridor between Pagosa Springs and Durango require roadway maintenance or emergency repairs, notably at the Piedra River Bridge, located 18 miles west of Pagosa Springs. Following the collapse of its support piers, the bridge requires a complete rebuild; crews will install a temporary structure as soon as site conditions permit.
US 160 Wolf Creek Pass (MP 157 to 184.5) - Wolf Creek Pass remains closed from east of Pagosa Springs to South Fork. At least four locations along this 33-mile stretch have sustained severe damage caused by flooding, mud and rock slides. High water along the South Fork of the Rio Grande undercut the shoulder and travel lanes and washed out a segment of roadway, approximately 6 miles west of South Fork, through The Narrows.
CO 17 Antonito to New Mexico state line (MP 0 to 39) - CO 17 is anticipated to open by the end of today, Nov. 5 to restricted access only. No thru-traffic is allowed. Drive with caution through the area, as repair work continues at several locations along Cumbres and La Manga Passes. Motorists cannot travel past the New Mexico state line due to significant damage to NM State Highway 17 and ongoing NMDOT repairs.
Check real-time Colorado travel conditions at COtrip.org or on the COtrip Planner mobile app. For conditions in neighboring states, visit:
Guidance for freight and commercial drivers
With repair crews actively working along the river corridors, long-haul freight operations will save considerable time and avoid bottlenecks by routing around the region:
Use alternate interstate corridors: Interstate freight moving east–west across Colorado or northern New Mexico should avoid rural mountain passes and route via I-70 to the north or I-40 to the south.
Stick to state-designated routes: Commercial drivers making essential deliveries into the area must avoid GPS shortcuts onto unpaved, seasonal forest roads or rural county roads. Many backroads cannot support heavy vehicle turning radiuses, have strict weight limits or have sustained minor shoulder damage. These roads may have also sustained flooding damage. View the latest travel impacts, road repairs and open corridors on COtrip.org or through the free COtrip Planner app.
Build in extra transit time: Deliveries routed into Pagosa Springs, Bayfield or Durango should account for substantial extra travel tim
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