The Colorado Department of Transportation told Ouray County commissioners on Sept. 24 that US Highway 550 in the county is slated for a set of safety projects that CDOT said respond to increasing traffic and recent fatal crashes.

CDOT Region 5 planners presented projects from a multi‑decade plan and a fiscally constrained 10‑year list. The agency said the top corridor project for the county is a shoulder‑widening, intersection and passing‑lane package near Billy Creek — approximately mileposts 113 to 116 — that CDOT expects to advertise for construction in 2027 and begin major work in 2028, subject to funding and scheduling. Tim Funk, CDOT regional planner, said the project will include shoulder widening, intersection work at the Dutch Charlie entrance to Ridgeway State Park and some passing‑lane extensions or reallocations; CDOT said design is underway and a strategic funding allocation made the project move forward faster.

Jennifer Allison, CDOT traffic engineer, described crash patterns on the corridor. CDOT’s multi‑year review of crash data from 2020–2024 identified clusters of wildlife strikes and "off‑road" crashes, with a notable fatal‑crash pattern around milepost 113. Allison said CDOT has commissioned a corridor safety audit and speed‑management study; the speed study results are expected for draft review in October 2026 and the corridor audit work is scheduled for completion in mid‑2026. CDOT said it will evaluate near‑term countermeasures — centerline and edge‑line rumble strips, targeted signage and chevrons, and refined striping to adjust passing zones — and then fold longer‑term geometry, guardrail and acceleration/deceleration lane needs into the Billy Creek construction project.

The project list also includes Central Federal Lands work on Red Mountain parking improvements and rockfall mitigation; CDOT noted a rock‑facing/wall replacement project near the Red Mountain snow shed area planned for 2027. CDOT described previous work funded for wildlife fencing and one local chip seal completed by maintenance crews.

County commissioners and staff emphasized crash patterns tied to commuter peak hours between Telluride and Montrose and to seasonal visitor traffic and state park access; they asked CDOT to prioritize acceleration/deceleration (accel/decel) turn lanes at the Dutch Charlie entrance as an immediate safety priority in addition to shoulders. CDOT staff agreed that intersection accel/decel lanes are included in the project scope and said the agency would continue coordination with county leaders, sheriff’s staff and emergency responders for interim mitigations while the bigger project proceeds.

Ending

CDOT staff said they will continue the scheduled design and safety‑study work, evaluate immediate low‑cost countermeasures, and provide updated timelines as the project proceeds toward advertisement and construction. Commissioners asked for follow‑up briefings and requested more frequent data and communications during the design phase. No formal county actions or votes were recorded during the work session.