Colorado Bridge Closures and Travel Alerts You Need Before Your Next Road Trip

You know the feeling. That weird, gut-level dread when your GPS reroutes for the fourth time and suddenly you’re crawling behind a hundred brake lights on some backroad you’ve never seen. Colorado road trips are magical, yes. But bridge closures? They don’t care if you packed your favorite snacks or queued the perfect playlist.

So, before you find yourself hangry and lost, here are the alerts and closures you genuinely want to check out: no sugar-coating, just real talk.

1. COtrip.org Real-Time Traffic Alerts

When your phone is a lifeline, COtrip.org is the friend who texts right before a disaster. Real-time alerts, live updates, and those little red icons on the map have saved more than a few road trips from turning into horror stories.

You don’t have to be a tech wizard to use it. Just bookmark the site and check the map before you start your engine. Even my dad figured it out, which means you can too.

No one wants to discover a bridge closure at the worst possible exit. COtrip.org covers everything from icy mountain passes to sudden construction snarls. It might not make the coffee, but it keeps your trip on track; most days, that’s enough.

2. COtrip Planner App for iOS & Android

Picture this: You’re halfway through your playlist, somewhere between cell tower dead zones, and then: bridge alert! The COtrip Planner App puts statewide updates in your hand, no matter what carrier you’re on. It’s the digital co-pilot you didn’t know you needed.

The app updates in real time, so you can reroute before you hit the dreaded barricade. It’s even got custom push notifications, because why should exes be the only ones to interrupt your music?

Bonus: It’s free. Download it for iOS or Android, set your route, and suddenly you’re the person everyone else texts for road wisdom. Your future self (and backseat drivers) will thank you.

3. CDOT Email & Text Travel Alerts Sign-Up

Ever wish you had a crystal ball for travel nightmares? Signing up for CDOT’s email and text alerts is the next best thing. It’s like future-you sending a warning when the bridge you need is out, hours before you even load the car.

It takes about two minutes to customize what alerts matter to you. No overflowing inbox, just the stuff that actually impacts your drive. It’s so efficient I almost felt smug.

Whether you’re a planner or a last-minute packer, this tip is your ace. Because sometimes, being a little extra saves a very big headache on the road.

Now that you’ve got the alerts covered, let’s switch gears and check out a few closures that might impact your route.

4. Interstate 70 Mountain Corridor Congestion

Raise your hand if you’ve ever been trapped in I-70 gridlock, staring at the taillights of a Subaru with twelve ski stickers. The Mountain Corridor has a reputation, and not in a good way. Closures and sudden slowdowns are as common as elk sightings.

Digital CDOT signs are your best friend here. Trust them, even if your navigation app throws a tantrum. One minute it’s all clear, and by the next, there’s a thirty-mile backup because a bridge got cranky.

Currently, major projects at Floyd Hill and Vail Pass are causing up to 20-minute delays from blasting, ramp closures, and lane restrictions. So, if you’re rolling through Glenwood Canyon or Floyd Hill, budget extra time. Or, better yet, keep snacks and a bathroom plan handy. You’ll be swapping traffic stories for years.

5. Loveland Pass (U.S. 6) Weather-Related Closures

You can’t predict Colorado’s weather, but you can expect Loveland Pass to close whenever the snow feels dramatic. Picture yourself at the summit, wind howling, road shut tight, suddenly, your shortcut is a legend.

Truckers and thrill-seekers know this: when the pass closes, everyone pivots to the tunnel. Traffic stacks up, tempers flare, and you start questioning your life choices. Pro tip: always have an alternate route (and a playlist ready for the crawl).

Even in May, the snow likes to drop by for one last party. Check the forecast and CDOT updates before you commit. No one wants to explain why they’re late for brunch with a snowdrift selfie.

6. Glenwood Canyon Bridge Work and Closures

Fact: Glenwood Canyon is Colorado’s wildest stretch of interstate. Every season, the bridges and roadbed get battered by rockslides, floods, and more than a few runaway truck stories. When repairs start, closures ripple for miles.

Local lore says if you haven’t detoured through Rifle in a snowstorm, you haven’t truly lived in Colorado. Watch for construction updates, especially in spring and late summer. Even a minor repair can mean a two-hour detour.

Bring extra snacks and audiobooks. Cross the canyon when you can, and treat the journey like the epic it is; because some road trips are about surviving, not just arriving.

7. Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels: Tunnel or Bust

Here’s the truth: if you’ve never white-knuckled it through the Eisenhower Tunnel in a blizzard, are you even a Coloradan? This tunnel is a lifeline, when it’s open. But bridge repairs or accidents nearby can bring everything to a halt.

When the tunnel closes, everyone reroutes over Loveland Pass, which is basically Mother Nature’s obstacle course. Suddenly, a quick drive turns into an adventure you didn’t want.

Before you set out, check the tunnel status and nearby closures. If you end up on the pass, you’ll want chains, patience, and a sense of humor. Because in Colorado, the road chooses you.

8. Historic Royal Gorge Bridge Access

Royal Gorge Bridge looks like a dare from a past life. Built in 1929, it’s the highest suspension bridge in America, and sometimes, it needs a little TLC. When maintenance shuts it down, the whole town of Cañon City feels it.

If you’re driving out for the view (or a family photo on the swinging planks) call ahead. Sometimes repairs close the bridge or restrict hours, which is not the kind of surprise you want after a two-hour drive.

Fun fact: the bridge survived a wildfire in 2013 and reopened better than ever. When you finally cross it, take a minute to appreciate both the engineering and your own persistence.