Big falling rock CO 145 closed

Eaglemax wrote:
Hello,
Other than the boulder in the road detour, is 145 a decent drive towing a fifth wheel? It’s only a 30’ er. Never done that route and we will be coming back from Mesa Verde NP to Denver and would like to see some new country. Also thinking of back tracking to Durango and headed up 550 through Ouray and Montrose. Never done that with a trailer either. Any experience or input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

Yes a perfectly fine two lane, it goes passed a lot of old and some active Uranium mines up on the mesa. But the Scenic part of the trip is taking 141 back thru that canyon on the other side of the mesa, the Gateway to Whitewater (back on 50) section, is very scenic with a mini grand canyon and the river. Not much in the way of services back there so fill up before starting.

There are supposed to be good campsites up on the mesa. We went up to look at the mines on the south side but did not explore the north side.

Hello,
Other than the boulder in the road detour, is 145 a decent drive towing a fifth wheel? It’s only a 30’ er. Never done that route and we will be coming back from Mesa Verde NP to Denver and would like to see some new country. Also thinking of back tracking to Durango and headed up 550 through Ouray and Montrose. Never done that with a trailer either. Any experience or input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

One of the rocks will not be moved, or blasted. They're going to name it -- actually already have -- Memorial Rock. It's bigger than a 2 story house.

CDOT is going to reroute the highway around the rock. Build a whole new road surface around it.

Have taken that road over to Gunnison several times. A beautiful drive.

CC Crabman wrote:
I guess they didn't have the chain-link fencing installed in this location.

A chain link fence would have been no match for that hunk-o-rock.

Before they blast those rocks away, expect a delay as they examine and inspect the rock face (where the boulders came from) to ensure another chunk is not waiting to squish what's below. Just like a distance explosion could trigger an avalanche during snow season, so it can trigger a rock slide; highly unlikely but they probably don't want an Oslo on their hands.

One of the bolder is blow up in pieces but it take some time to repair the Hwy.Anybody head in that way?

I guess they didn't have the chain-link fencing installed in this location.

Wow! What an impact -- the pavement is all folded up like a freshly baked oatmeal cookie.

Heisenberg wrote:
It will take awhile to get that out of the way and the road is totaled for 50 feet.

I'm sure that the CO road dept has plenty of contractors that are adept at drilling and blasting rock. But I'd guess 3 weeks to a month or so. But they should have that single bypass lane in place quickly. Assuming the slope above is stable, if not who knows.

Looking at the map you could go south from Ouray on 550 and not too far down is a gray line on the map road that would bypass the rockfall.

It will take awhile to get that out of the way and the road is totaled for 50 feet.