Pitkin County Engineering/Road and Bridge

09/21/2026

Don’t miss this special CDOT mini-documentary at the Wheeler Opera House on Wednesday, September 30 at 5:30 p.m.

The film marks the five-year anniversary of the devastating mudslides in Glenwood Canyon following the Grizzly Creek Fire. Along with telling the story of the extraordinary emergency response and engineering efforts that followed, the documentary features stunning aerial videography and photography that highlight just how special Glenwood Canyon truly is.

Stay after the presentation for a special Q&A with Pitkin County Engineer Andrew Knapp, who worked at CDOT on the Glenwood Canyon Recovery Project. Andrew will share his firsthand perspective on the challenges, engineering solutions, and collaboration involved in restoring this critical corridor.

Come for the story, stay for the Q&A, and get a behind-the-scenes look at an incredible recovery effort right here in our community.

In August 2021, thousands of tons of rock, mud, and debris poured down the burn scar of the Grizzly Creek Fire, severing Interstate 70 through Colorado’s Glenwood Canyon. It was … Continued

09/09/2026

Watson Divide will be closed September 16 and 17 for dust control operations. Please use an alternate route and use caution around Road & Bridge crews and equipment.

Gravel Road Tips:
• Slow down
• Use 4-wheel drive when appropriate
• Avoid spinning your tires
• Avoid hard acceleration and sudden braking
• Stay on the traveled roadway
• Give crews and equipment plenty of room

Driving carefully helps reduce dust, washboarding, rutting, and damage to the road surface.

Thank you for helping us preserve our roads and keep our crews safe.

08/24/2026

Pitkin County Road & Bridge Operations Update

Crews will be working on several maintenance projects over the next two weeks:

Castle Creek Road Repairs- Aug. 21–Sept. 24th
Road repairs will continue along Castle Creek Road. Expect uneven lanes, rough road surfaces, traffic control, and delays.

Culvert Cleaning - Aug. 24–Sept. 3
Crews will be cleaning culverts along Maroon Creek Road and Castle Creek Road to improve drainage and maintain roadway infrastructure.

Forest Service Road Grading - Aug. 24–Sept. 3
As part of Pitkin County’s Schedule A Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Forest Service, crews will be grading selected Forest Service roads, including:

Smuggler Mountain Road
Hunter Creek area roads
Lenado area roads

⚠️ Please slow down, use caution around crews and equipment, and obey all traffic control signs and directions. Expect changing road conditions and delays in work areas.

Schedules may change due to weather, emergencies, or operational needs.

Thank you for helping keep our crews and everyone traveling our roads safe.

08/19/2026

The Castle Creek Road Repair Project started today and is scheduled to be completed by Sept 24.

The majority of the work is between mile 9 to mile 10 up Castle Creek Road (about 1.0-mile before you get to Ashcroft). There are temporary traffic signals in place for overnight one-lane closures. Bikes and vehicles can expect heavy truck traffic on all of Castle Creek Road as well as delays and rough sections of road as the Contractor replaces culvert and damaged sections of the road prior to paving.

Please drive safely in our work zone. We appreciate your patience as we complete these vital road repairs.

06/20/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/18RztyoqMu/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Safety Alert! Capitol Creek Road will be closed to vehicle traffic from the Hay Park trailhead parking area to the Capitol Creek trailhead parking area Monday June 22 to Thursday, June 25. The closure will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Foot and horse traffic will be permitted. Users parked at the Capitol Creek Trailhead will be able to exit through the work zone as they drive out. The closure is due to road improvements and is for the safety of the public.

As a part of this effort, improvements will also be made to the Hay Park trailhead parking area; however, the parking lot will remain open to the public.
Pitkin County Government

05/26/2026

05/09/2026

Watson Divide is now OPEN. We appreciate everyone’s patience during the weather-related delays in reopening.

Please drive with care and obey posted speed limits. Help keep your roads in good condition by avoiding tire spinning and excessive acceleration on dirt roads.

Dirt Road Driving Tips:
• Slow down- high speeds create washboarding and dust
• Avoid spinning tires when starting or climbing hills
• Increase following distance
• Drive smoothly and avoid sudden braking or acceleration
• Remember: moisture and weather can quickly change road conditions

Thank you for helping protect and maintain our county roads for everyone.

05/02/2026

04/22/2026

Please avoid Watson Divide as we start our spring and summer road work. These operations are performed annually to ensure the safety and comfort of our traveling public.

The Watson Divide Road will be closed to traffic from April 27 until May 7 for annual dust program work aimed at improving public safety and the environment.

04/21/2026

🚧 Road Closure Notice: Watson Divide 🚧

Watson Divide will be closed from April 27 through May 7 for road work.

During this time:

No access will be available from Highway 82 to Snowmass Creek
Please plan ahead and use an alternate route

Thank you for your patience while improvements are underway.