Red Mountain Pass on U.S. Highway 550 between Silverton and Ouray will close at 10 a.m. Tuesday, and remain closed for most of the day with no specified reopening time.
The Colorado Department of Transportation will be testing howitzers used to trigger avalanches, spokeswoman Adair Christensen said.
“We're just really trying to prep for the snowiest winter months,” she said.
Northbound travel will be blocked 4 miles north of Silverton, near mile post 75, about 2 miles before the Chattanooga curve. Southbound traffic will be blocked 14 miles south of Ouray at the Chattanooga Mine near mile post 79.
Howitzer are fired from concrete pads toward hazardous slide paths. Crews on Tuesday will adjust the positioning of the artillery. Christensen said the work was necessary in the interest of “efficiency and safety.”
People in the area may hear the artillery fire.
Travelers looking to cross the San Juan Mountains on Tuesday will need to budget about an extra hour and take Colorado Highway 145 over Lizard Head Pass.
rschafir@durangoherald.com
