[UPDATE] CDOT has completed work and re-opened Monarch Pass on Highway 50.

[Original post] The Colorado Department of Transportation is performing avalanche and snow removal operations on Monarch Pass, Highway 50, between Gunnison and Salida, today, Jan. 14th.

Operations will require a full closure starting at 6 pm.

Eastbound travelers will encounter a closure near Sargents at Mile Point 190, while westbound travelers will encounter a closure at Maysville near Mile Point 210.

CDOT anticipates that operations will be complete by 8 pm.

The exact time of reopening the highway is not known and the closure may last for as long as two hours. Regional travelers should plan ahead, allow for extra travel time, or arrive and drive through the gates before the designated closure time.

Visit COtrip.org for the latest information on road closures and conditions.