Road Closures
To accommodate the annual Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, the Colorado Department of Transportation will close US Highway 550 to vehicle travel on Saturday, May 25 between Purgatory Ski Resort and Silverton. Motorists are urged to seek alternate routes between 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m, or travel through the closure points before 8:30 a.m.
Iron Horse event officials encourage friends or family members who plan to pick up cyclists in Silverton to allow ample time to get through the closure point locations in Silverton and at Purgatory before 8:30 a.m., as there is no return transportation available for race participants. Purgatory Ski Resort is located 25 miles north of Durango and is an approximate 35 to 45 minute drive from Durango.
During the race, motorists headed south between Hermosa and Durango will be detoured from US 550 onto County Road 203 at Hermosa Creek to Animas View Drive. Northbound traffic from Durango to Purgatory will proceed along US 550 following traffic control personnel, signage, and cones set in place. Motorists must obey all traffic control signage and personnel.
Motorists will also experience brief delays and traffic impacts Saturday morning in Durango, along North Main Avenue, as several waves of cyclists are set to depart from 33rd Street. The first group of 600 professional cyclists will depart at 7:30 a.m., followed by approximately 2000 cyclists at 8 a.m. and at 8:15 a.m. a smaller wave of 150 cyclists will join the race.
With multiple bicycle events taking place over the busy holiday weekend, drivers are reminded and urged to watch for cyclists and drive safely.
