San Miguel Power Association will close Red Mountain Pass to conduct wildfire mitigation work starting Aug. 9, turning away a request from Ouray city officials to further delay the project to avoid disrupting one of the most lucrative times of the year for local businesses.

The rural electric cooperative announced late last week it intends to fully close a 2 1/2-mile section of U.S. Highway 550 Aug. 9-13, Aug. 16-20, Sept. 13-17 and Sept. 20-24. The plan calls for closing the highway from 8:30 a....