The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and contractor Rock Supremacy have announced the start of a winter shutdown for the rockfall mitigation project on Colorado Highway 82 at Red Hill, effective November 7. The suspension is due to safety concerns related to winter weather, with work scheduled to resume in spring 2026.
The mitigation project began in mid-May along CO 82 from Mile Point 11.7 to MP 12.2, just east of the intersection with CO 133. Activities completed so far include culvert cleaning, rock scaling, and the installation of anchors, posts, and mesh netting intended to reduce rockfall hazards.
Jason Smith, CDOT Regional Transportation Director, explained the importance of these measures: “Any loose surface material on a cliff or slope could present a rockfall hazard for motorists on the highway. The elimination of loose material decreases this potential hazard. The new post-mounted mesh system will help capture potential falling rocks and debris and deposit them into the catchment ditch safely off of the road surface.”
Once construction resumes in spring, motorists should expect daytime work Monday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Traffic impacts will include single-lane closures, reduced speed limits set at 45 miles per hour, width restrictions limiting vehicles to no more than 14 feet wide, and occasional traffic holds lasting up to twenty minutes.
Project completion is anticipated by the end of May 2026.
For more information about this project, visit https://www.codot.gov/projects/co82rockfallmitigation or contact the hotline at 970-639-0680.
