Superintendent & Foreman - Rusty Melcher
The San Juan County Road and Bridge Crew plows maintains all unpaved roadways within San Juan County. These roadways range from 9,000' to 12,500' elevations and can carry several hundred vehicles per day. Due to the nature of the roads and the harsh conditions that exist at high elevation, continual routine maintenance is performed to retain a surface that is drivable with proper 4x4 vehicles. There are several factors that determine the level of maintenance required on a gravel road: * Volume of Traffic * Speed of Traffic *Weather Conditions * Rock and Mud Slides * Washouts * Down Trees
Winter Maintenance
The San Juan County Road Crew does not plow any County Roads with the exceptions of CR 110 to Gladstone and Silverton Mountain, and CR 2 to Eureka. All paved roads in the County are cleared by either CDOT or the Town of Silverton.
Summer Maintenance
Summer maintenance consists of opening passing, repairing and realigning roads that have sustained damage through the winter, repairing and replacing culverts, tree and debris removal and any related repairs or obstacles that present themselves. *The San Juan County Road Crew works hard to open our high passes as soon as possible. This does not ensure that travel will be possible as our neighboring counties work to clear their sides of each pass. Passes are usually open by mid to late July. Responsibilities 42-2-108 C.R.S. Mandates the creation of a primary and secondary system of roads in all counties. 43-2-111 C.R.S. Assigns these primary and secondary roads to counties for construction and maintenance. Roads, by definition, include bridges, culverts, footpaths, and rights of way. Maintenance of transportation-related infrastructure consists of roadway grading, roadway graveling, traffic control device maintenance, snow removal, roadway reconstruction, and realignment, culvert cleaning, culvert installation, and replacement, bridge repair and replacement, weed control, tree and brush removal, and various other related maintenance functions.
Responsibilities
42-2-108 C.R.S. Mandates the creation of a primary and secondary system of roads in all counties. 43-2-111 C.R.S. Assigns these primary and secondary roads to counties for construction and maintenance. Roads, by definition, include bridges, culverts, footpaths, and rights of way. Maintenance of transportation-related infrastructure consists of roadway grading, roadway graveling, traffic control device maintenance, snow removal, roadway reconstruction and realignment, culvert cleaning, culvert installation and replacement, bridge repair and replacement, weed control, tree and brush removal, and various other related maintenance functions.
As our county roads begin to open - PLEASE DRIVE WITH CAUTION - they are still slushy and icy
County Road Conditions (updated April 25, 2025)
- Animas Forks – CR2 - Open
- Arrastra Gulch CR21 - Open
- Black Bear Pass - Closed
- Bolam Pass – Closed
- Brooklyn Mine Road - Closed
- California Pass - Closed
- Cinnamon Pass - Closed
- Corkscrew - Top - Closed
- Cunningham Gulch CR4A - Open
- Hurricane Pass - Closed
- Engineer Pass - Closed
- Hotel Draw - Closed
- Lake Emma Basin/ Eureka Gulch - Closed
- Maggie Gulch - Closed
- Minnie Gulch - Closed
- Ophir Pass - CR 8 - Open to the top (San Juan County Side ONLY)
- Picayune / Placer - Closed
- Porphyry Gulch - Closed
- Poughkeepsie Gulch - Closed
- South Mineral CR7 - Open
- Stoney Pass - Closed
County Barn
1127 Animas St
PO Box 466
Silverton, CO 81433
970.387.9932
email: roads@sanjuancolorado.us