CDOT Press Release

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will keep Independence Pass closed for the season—ahead of the regularly scheduled goal date of November 7, which would have occurred on November 6 this year, a Friday.

The pass had closed on October 27, at 3 P.M., due to a winter storm warning and heavy snow predicted above 8,000 feet. Heavy winds and continued snowfall have deemed the pass unsafe for motorists and workers alike. This closure includes the area from just east of Aspen to west of Twin Lakes, approximately 18 miles.

The 12,095-foot pass is closed for the winter every year for the safety of the traveling public. It is often closed temporarily before the goal date—last year, the pass closed for the season on November 7. Each spring, CDOT plans the opening of Independence Pass for Memorial Day weekend in May, weather permitting. The alternate route to Aspen during the months Independence Pass is closed is I-70 to Glenwood Springs, and SH 82 into Aspen.

Motorists are encouraged to log on to CDOT’s traveler information site at www.cotrip.org to check road conditions and closures before each trip this winter. The public may also call 511 from anywhere in the state. Motorists are also urged to prepare vehicles for winter driving, refer to Winter Driving Tips at http://www.dot.state.co.us/TravelInfo/WinterDriving/Index.cfm.