Little Blue Creek Canyon project to start in early April

“It’s all weather dependent”

[ By Katherine Nettles ]

Anyone travelling to Montrose next month can expect to encounter delays, closures and a need for advanced planning, starting as early as next week. The Little Blue Creek Canyon safety improvement project along a 4-mile stretch of Highway 50 between Gunnison and Montrose is expected to begin as soon as possible, though officials have not yet released a starting date.

“We are working on getting that finalized,” said Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) public information manager Kathleen Wanatowicz on Tuesday, March 23. She did not anticipate a starting date being released at the open house meeting in Gunnison on Wednesday, March 23 either.

“It’s all weather dependent. They want a high level of confidence that the project will start when they say it is going to start,” she said.
The two-year project will have daily closures and detours in place while widening the roadway, expanding shoulders, replacing guardrails and adding rockfall catchment, new signage and striping. The project will require extensive blasting through the canyon in the early stages as well.

“People should plan for closures and delays starting in early April if they are travelling along that route,” said Wanatowicz.
Updated information on the project and specific opening and closure schedules can be found at https://www.us50info.com