The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will soon enforce new weight restrictions on the Red Cliff bridge, a historic structure located on US Highway 24 near the town of Red Cliff. The restrictions, which take effect in late August 2025, will prohibit large commercial motor vehicles carrying loads over 34 or 37 tons—depending on vehicle classification and number of axles—from crossing the bridge. CDOT is informing operators through its freight office and will post signage to alert drivers approaching the bridge.
The Red Cliff bridge was built in 1940 and is recognized as a National Historic Landmark. It is among CDOT’s oldest assets. In 2004, the bridge underwent rehabilitation that included replacing its deck, repainting steel components, and widening the deck while maintaining its historical appearance.
Since 2020, CDOT has taken steps to monitor the condition of the bridge by surveying for steel corrosion. The agency inspects all bridges statewide regularly for safety and maintains a two-year inspection cycle for this particular structure.
A 2020 inspection found thinning in some steel elements of the Red Cliff bridge. This discovery led to further analysis starting in 2022. According to CDOT, “The thinning steel, combined with the age of the structure, has led to the proactive implementation of new load restrictions for large commercial motor vehicles carrying atypically heavy loads crossing the bridge.”
The measures are intended to preserve both public safety and the integrity of this historic landmark.
