Road & Bridge presents high‑country pass‑opening policy; residents urge daily updates

Road & Bridge Supervisor Ryan Reghetti briefed the commission on a proposed High Country Pass Opening policy and operational changes intended to create consistent expectations for spring pass openings.

Ryan described objectives and an established order of openings — Last Dollar, Offer, Tomboy, Imogene and Bridal Veil — and said that in typical years passes are targeted to be open by early July, with Black Bear often the latest. He explained coordination with the U.S. Forest Service and adjacent counties: barricades will be posted at summits by neighboring counties once crews on both sides have cleared to the top, and local gates will be closed and re-opened as operations permit. "So they'll place barricades at the top, then we'll remove them when we get to the top," Ryan said.

The presentation covered operational triggers (snow depth, debris, crew safety), cost and equipment considerations, and a communications plan: the department will publish an updated pass-status table on the county website, use flip/variable message signage at key approach points, post updates on social media, and email municipalities and outfitters. Several residents and outfitters said daily, Facebook-style updates would be helpful for trip planning and safety. One resident suggested adding the town contacts (e.g., the Town of Ophir) to the notification list to avoid conflicting public messages.

Commissioners discussed trade-offs between setting policy with firm dates and preserving flexibility for safety and weather variability; staff said the draft intentionally retains discretion for safety while improving transparency via daily status posts and a website table.