The bridge on U.S. 50 over Blue Mesa Reservoir will open to all vehicles next week.

Good news for travelers in western Colorado! The U.S. 50 bridge over Blue Mesa Reservoir, an important route connecting Gunnison and Montrose, is finally set to reopen after months of closure. According to state transportation officials, the bridge will be fully open to all traffic starting on October 16th.

The closure of this bridge has caused a lot of inconvenience for residents in the area since April, when inspectors discovered some issues that needed to be addressed. One of the problems was a crack in a steel girder near the center of the bridge, which required extensive repair work. In addition, the nearby Lake Fork Bridge also had to be fixed, as it was built using the same faulty method back in the early 1960s.

But now, after many months of hard work, the bridge is ready to be open once again. Although some final reconstruction activities still need to be done, they will only take place at night between 11:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. During this time, travelers may experience some delays, but rest assured that the bridge will be fully operational during the day.

For those who have had to take detours due to the bridge closure, this is great news. Many drivers have had to add up to seven hours to their travel time just to reach their destination. But with the U.S. 50 bridge back in action, these long detours will no longer be necessary. And even better, the pilot car operations along Gunnison County Road 26 will also come to an end.

However, officials are reminding everyone to still exercise caution when traveling in the area. The nearby road will remain open and can be used as an alternative route if needed. Of course, this is also weather-dependent, so it's best to keep an eye on the conditions before deciding to take this route.

So mark your calendars, folks! The U.S. 50 bridge over Blue Mesa Reservoir will be open for business next week. And if you want to stay updated on all things Colorado, be sure to sign up for our Mile High Roundup email newsletter. Happy travels!

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