The damaged U.S. Highway 50 Middle bridge that crosses over Blue Mesa Reservoir will open to all vehicles on Wednesday, although only as a single-lane with pilot cars.

Heavy trucks with legal loads, motorhomes and vehicles towing large trailers will no longer have to use the County Road 26 detour.

The Middle Bridge, built in 1963, closed to all traffic April 18 after several cracks were found during an inspection. Further inspection revealed nearly 120 flaws that needed to be repaired. Large 23-foot-long steel plates weighing about 9,000 pounds each, and using nearly 200 bolts each, were installed on the bridge girders to help reinforce the structure.

Large vehicles, including Class A motorhomes, buses and semi trucks will be escorted one at a time across the bridge.

CDOT is working to complete final construction and reopen it to normal, two-way traffic before winter sets in. Final construction will take place during overnight hours, from 11:30 p.m. to 6 a.m., and late-night traffic can expect longer wait times.

The U.S. Highay 50 Lake Fork Bridge at the eastern end of Blue Mesa Reservoir is open to all legal loads and large vehicles while repair work continues. Flaggers will direct traffic from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., seven days a week. Repair work will continue overnight, weather permitting, and late night drivers can expect longer wait times after 11:30 p.m. until 6 a.m.

The mid-October opening of the bridge to all legal loads is the last major milestone to restoring normal travel along U.S. Highway 50 between Gunnison and Montrose. Night work will continue as weather permits and next spring crews will return to do final restoration work.

CDOT and Kiewit will host a virtual public meeting to discuss these updates and answer questions on Monday, Oct. 14, from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. Spanish interpretation will be available.

When: Monday, Oct. 14, from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m.

Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85486998008

For additional information about this project:

• Call (970) 648-4423 to leave a voicemail for a call back at other times.

• You can email questions to [email protected].

• Website resource: https://www.gunnisoncounty.org/1078/Hwy-50-Bridge-Closure, bit.ly/us50bridge; https://www.facebook.com/US50bridge.

• To sign up for email updates on all Gunnison County roadwork messaging, please visit https://www.gunnisoncounty.org/list.aspx to select what updates you’d like to start receiving. For road updates, select Travel Advisories from the List.