The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) fully reopened the Highway 50 Lake Fork Bridge over Blue Mesa Reservoir to two-way traffic this past weekend, marking a major milestone in ongoing repairs.
The Highway 50 Middle Bridge, located five miles east of Lake Fork, had already reopened to two-way traffic on November 13th.
Repairs on the Lake Fork Bridge included fabricating 182-ton plates and installing 915 steel plates using 20,500 bolts to address areas that posed an imminent risk to structural integrity. While the bridge is now operational, final work will conclude next spring when both bridges receive their final coat of paint.
The bridges were initially closed in April after a special inspection revealed several structural cracks, prompting an intensive repair effort to ensure safety and functionality.
