A mud and rockslide closed U.S. Highway 550 near Red Mountain Pass on Friday. The road was closed for about five hours and 20 minutes while crews cleared the debris. (Courtesy of CDOT)
A mud and rockslide closed U.S. Highway 550 near Red Mountain Pass on Friday. The road was closed for about five hours and 20 minutes while crews cleared the debris. (Courtesy of CDOT)

A mud and rockslide closed U.S. Highway 550 north of Silverton in both directions for more than five hours Friday night, according to the Colorado State Patrol.

The slide occurred about 5 p.m., 10 miles north of Silverton at milepost 81, near Red Mountain Pass, said Adair Christensen, spokeswoman with Colorado Department of Transportation, on Friday. The highway reopened about 10:20 p.m., she said.

Initial reports said 4 to 5 feet of rock covered the road, she said at 6:40 p.m.

Several vehicles were trapped between areas of mud and rock, she added Monday, but the agency received no reports of injuries or vehicle damage. On Friday evening, once debris was cleared, all trapped cars were able to move through .

According to a news release from CDOT released Monday morning, significant amounts of mud and rock remain on the shoulders of U.S. Highway 550 between miles points 75 and 77.

“Crews are out there all week, taking the rock and mudslide debris from the sides of the highway and moving it to stockpile locations,” Christensen said.

CDOT said motorists traveling between Silverton and Ouray should expect delays of up to 30 minutes as maintenance personnel and heavy equipment work to move the debris. Flaggers will be directing traffic, bringing vehicles to full stop and guiding cars through lane shifts and closures.

Christensen said CDOT expected to complete operations and resume normal traffic on U.S. Highway 550 by Thursday afternoon.

A mud and rockslide closed U.S. Highway 550 near Red Mountain Pass on Friday. The road was closed for about five hours and 20 minutes while crews cleared the debris. (COtrip screenshot)
A mud and rockslide closed U.S. Highway 550 near Red Mountain Pass on Friday. The road was closed for about five hours and 20 minutes while crews cleared the debris. (COtrip screenshot)

Another rockslide occurred this week near Telluride, where about 4 feet of rock covered the road. It took crews about four hours to clear that slide.

“Monsoons are here and it’s been causing havoc on several highways across Colorado,” Christensen said. “… We really just want the public to be aware that monsoons and flash floods could cause mudslides on the road. The main thing is, if you see any amount of standing water crossing a road, do not attempt to drive through it. Stop and turn around, or wait until the water clears or it’s safe to cross.”

Journal Staff Writer Ann Marie Vanderveen contributed to this report.

shane@durangoherald.com

A mud and rockslide closed U.S. Highway 550 near Red Mountain Pass on Friday. The road was closed for about five hours and 20 minutes while crews cleared the debris. (Courtesy of CDOT)
A mud and rockslide closed U.S. Highway 550 near Red Mountain Pass on Friday. The road was closed for about five hours and 20 minutes while crews cleared the debris. (Courtesy of CDOT)
A mud and rockslide closed U.S. Highway 550 near Red Mountain Pass on Friday. The road was closed for about five hours and 20 minutes while crews cleared the debris. (Courtesy of CDOT)
A mud and rockslide closed U.S. Highway 550 near Red Mountain Pass on Friday. The road was closed for about five hours and 20 minutes while crews cleared the debris. (Courtesy of CDOT)