Crackdown on truckers using Independence Pass. (CO82) Whiners complain.

Just went by there a week or so ago on US24 there's big yellow signs saying NO Vehicles Over 35', and I know there's the same sign heading south out of Glenwood Springs and other places as well. I don't know what more they can do. It's only open maybe 7 months out of the year, anyway.

 

That road is clearly marked. There is no excuse for trying to take a big truck over it. It's been a number of years since I have been over Independence, but I know of at least one curve, (actually corner,) that is gonna give you problems.

 

NO it is not worth it. Can it be done? Sure. SHOULD it be done? Hell no.

 

I've never been over Independence but it's hard to imagine it being much worse than Loveland or Douglas or Red Mountain and others where trucks run routinely.

Speaking of Colorado still
Lately, if it sprinkles in the mountains and area to the west of Colorado Springs you get this ...

Mudslides in Manitou Springs

Same thing happened around the 1st of July there, too.

 

Well, before you jump to judgement on this, perhaps you SHOULD go over Independence Pass. (Just not in a big truck.) There are places where the road is extremely narrow. There are some sharp curves. There is a lot of tourist traffic. I realize that this pass cuts off approx. 100 miles if you are going from Buena Vista to Aspen.
However, the liability is so great in taking this route, a company would be absolutely foolish to allow, let alone require a driver to do this.

Take a look at this pass on Google Earth, if you can't get up there in person. You should be able to see what I'm talking about.

Now, as to the other passes you have mentioned, first off, I've never been over Douglas Pass, therefore I won't comment about it.

However, Loveland Pass is a long time trucking route. It is on a US Highway (6) and was in fact THE route before I-70 and the Eisenhower Tunnel were constructed. I've driven that numerous times in various size trucks and even busses. It is a designated truck route for over height or hazardous materials trucks.

Red Mountain Pass is again on a US Highway, (550). I've been over it many times, but never in a big truck. IMHO, I'd just as soon NOT take a big truck over it. I can't find anything in the way of length restrictions on it, on line, and it's just been too long since I've been over it.

Both Loveland and Red Mountain Passes are open year around, except when weather/slides have the roads temporarily closed. Independence is a state route that is not kept open in the winter time.

Oh and there is also the little matter of the law. There ARE length restrictions in place over Independence Pass.

 

I went over Independence pass back in 06 with my F150. Some of them curves were pretty sharp. There is no way I can see a big rig make it up there. Let alone some idiots that wil try and make it towing a travel trailer. As I almost had a wreck with such an idiot when coming down from the pass as his trailer as part way in my lane going around one of them sharp turns. I had to lock the brakes up and come to a stop to let him clear the turn before I could procede.