County keeps road closed

Avalanche mitigation on County Road 361 involves blasting to bring snow down avalanche chutes after snowstorms and then clearing the road. A 3.2-mile stretch above the Senator Gulch gate, just past the Drinking Cup is at the center of the conflict over road maintenance during the winter and an impasse in negotiations between Ouray County and those in charge of the temporarily shut down Ouray Silver Mine. Photo courtesy Ouray Silver Mine

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By Erin McIntyre, on February 23, 2023

A split board of Ouray County commissioners reinforced a decision to close County Road 361 to vehicle traffic on Tuesday, as mine representatives scrambled at the last minute to convince them otherwise.

The winter road maintenance agreement between the mine and county lapsed at the end of 2022 and was temporarily extended but will expire on Feb. 28.

County officials had voiced concerns over avalanche mitigation and the mine following protocols to ensure public safety. They also cited a lack of not...

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