I-25 closure between Raton & Trinidad -- travel time? (Albuquerque: how much, live)

[lobo]

The track fire seems to be growing each day. I feel terrible for the community up there with all of that beautiful terrain ablaze. I-25 is closed at County Road 72 at Exit 453 in New Mexico and at exit 11 in Colorado.

For anyone who has traveled through the detour between Trinidad and Raton within the last few days, can you comment on how long it took for the 100 mile detour and how was the traffic (which is normally a 15 - 20 min. drive through Raton Pass)? Is it a bumper-to-bumper 2 lane highway?

We'll be heading that way in a few days and from the looks of it, we'll be taking that detour. We have to be in Colorado Springs by a certain time for an event, so it would be helpful to know how much extra time to allow for the detour. Usually it takes us 5 1/2 hours to drive from Alb. to Colo Springs with one stop in Raton.

Also, is there a different route to take from Albuquerque to Colorado to avoid the detour?

[Dogmama50]

You could get off at Hwy 599 in Santa fe and head north onto 285 up to Alamosa and then take 160 East to Walsenburg.

[Zoidberg]

Although 599 seems simple, it doesn't actually save any time; taking I-25 until you hit US285 directly is what all the mapping programs suggest.

Why someone thought putting lights on 599 was a good idea is beyond me.

There's also a slightly shorter path to Colorado that doesn't include Alamosa but does include Taos & Questa. Google maps will steer you right.

[Dogmama50]

There are a couple lights on 599, but so little traffic that it does go quickly compared to going through town. I also suggested going up to Alamosa rather than Taos since the difference on Google maps is only about 15 minutes longer to go to Alamosa but the road is all but vacant especially compared to downtown Taos on a Saturday. It takes me about 2.5 hours from Santa fe to Alamosa, I've driven it 6 times since April and it's always been a breeze.

[jiminnm]

Originally Posted by Zoidberg

Although 599 seems simple, it doesn't actually save any time; taking I-25 until you hit US285 directly is what all the mapping programs suggest.

Why someone thought putting lights on 599 was a good idea is beyond me.

You must never have driven these routes. Depending on time of day, the drive thru Santa Fe can take a very long time. There are only three traffic lights on 599, at the exit, immediately after going under I25 and at Airport. a little luck, and you'll catch only one. I've crawled through Santa Fe too many rimes to take that route.

[lobo]

Thanks for the suggestions. I google mapped going from SF to Alamosa and then taking 160 to Walsenburg. Mileage wise it's 8 miles less than my usual I-40 route (but will take longer due to the stops and slower speed limit). It sounds much better though than taking the 100 mile detour. I'll have some new scenery to look at compared to the usual route.

[Zoidberg]

Originally Posted by jiminnm

You must never have driven these routes.

Either that or you must be incapable of learning new things.

Depending on time of day, the drive thru Santa Fe can take a very long time.

Half of the drive through Santa Fe using the old-fashioned method is on I-25 at 75mph (or higher if you like). Good luck getting up that fast most of the time on 599.

599 also takes you 90 degrees off course to go around Santa Fe. Although spots are a decent speed limit, speed limits are set artifically low on that bypass (and even if you don't care to follow the speed limits, wingnuts in front of you don't mind blocking you to, where that's far less of an issue on 285). This will cost you 4 minutes vs. the alternative.

285 through town is not as horrible as the rest of Santa Fe (and I dare say the fastest road Santa Fe has with the exceptions of 599 and I-25). It even has lightless interchanges with many of the major streets, allowing for a far smaller number of lights than one might figure.

Instead of picking up the "me smarter" mantle, why not try both with a stopwatch and see what the stopwatch tells you?

[Dogmama50]

Taking St. Francis/285 to get to the Plaza may be a shorter route than 599, however if you are trying to get north of town there is no sense in bothering to go through all of the stop lights in town, especially where St. Francis and Cerillos meet.

I live off 599 and drive in nearly every day, the speed limit is 55, the police like to enforce it, I have never had trouble passing anyone should I choose to go faster. It seems the average speed is 65, which is just fine for me.

[lobo]

I-25/Raton Pass reopened yesterday, so we are good to go! I'm still glad to have the info though, just in case.

[N8!]

Came thru Raton Pass today; it's open. Lots of heavy fire damage to the forest on the NM side. No smoke in the pass what-so-ever, as the fire seems to have moved off to east well away from I-25.