US-550 south into New Mexico (Durango: rental, live, transportation)

[chilaili]

Quick question for those of you familiar with the Durango area: what is the road like south to Farmington? My boss will be driving it for the first time early November in a rental and I want to make sure he won't have anything to be concerned about. (He's from Michigan.) As far as I can tell the road is actually very flat once you get south of Durango.

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by chilaili

Quick question for those of you familiar with the Durango area: what is the road like south to Farmington? My boss will be driving it for the first time early November in a rental and I want to make sure he won't have anything to be concerned about. (He's from Michigan.) As far as I can tell the road is actually very flat once you get south of Durango.

Not exactly. The first hill south of the US160/550 intersection (commonly referred to by those of us who have known Durango for decades as Carbon Junction--named after the railroad junction that used to be near there) has a pretty stiff grade and can be nasty in winter weather (which is possible in November). South of there US550 stays on top of a mesa until near the Colorado/New Mexico border, then slowly drops into the Animas River valley once again. A lot of people assume that the road does not get severe winter driving conditions, but it can and does--especially from about the Colorado/New Mexico border north.

[chilaili]

Thankfully the weather forecast doesn't look too bad but I will give him the heads-up

[jim9251]

The weather forecast can change rapidly, especially this time of year, so he should check often.

Road Conditions, Speeds, Travel Times, Traffic Cameras, Live Streaming Traffic Cameras, Road Closures and Road Work Information provided by Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) a branch of Colorado Department of Transportation

NMRoads

And just in case, a little known law...he's going to be traveling into Indian Nation lands, any firearm needs to be locked in the trunk and unloaded.

[chilaili]

Originally Posted by jim9251

The weather forecast can change rapidly, especially this time of year, so he should check often.

Road Conditions, Speeds, Travel Times, Traffic Cameras, Live Streaming Traffic Cameras, Road Closures and Road Work Information provided by Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) a branch of Colorado Department of Transportation

NMRoads

And just in case, a little known law...he's going to be traveling into Indian Nation lands, any firearm needs to be locked in the trunk and unloaded.

Really not going to be an issue but thank you

[DOUBLE H]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

Not exactly. The first hill south of the US160/550 intersection (commonly referred to by those of us who have known Durango for decades as Carbon Junction--named after the railroad junction that used to be near there) has a pretty stiff grade and can be nasty in winter weather (which is possible in November). South of there US550 stays on top of a mesa until near the Colorado/New Mexico border, then slowly drops into the Animas River valley once again. A lot of people assume that the road does not get severe winter driving conditions, but it can and does--especially from about the Colorado/New Mexico border north.

Absolutely!

One other thing to keep in mind is there is more traffic on that road than you would think. You have quite a bit of commuting going on here between the two towns. And also quite a bit of truck traffic, a good portion of it are Halliburton trucks. From the stoplight that separates hwy. 160 from hwy. 550 it is about a 30 minute drive. A little ways south of the state line the road is a 4 laner.

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by chilaili

Quick question for those of you familiar with the Durango area: what is the road like south to Farmington? My boss will be driving it for the first time early November in a rental and I want to make sure he won't have anything to be concerned about. (He's from Michigan.) As far as I can tell the road is actually very flat once you get south of Durango.

It's a four lane highway, in good condition and yes pretty flat in New Mexico. CDOT (Colorado) does a good job of clearing roads a day after snowstorms, but New Mexico fares not as good on that.

[wadenelson]

550 from Durango to Farmington is a piece of cake.

The real question is how you got TO Durango, it's mountain passes in EVERY OTHER DIRECTION. Big mountains! Serious winter driving!

[DOUBLE H]

Well, it certainly will be tonight. This storm is heading southwest to northeast and Wolf Creek pass surely is going to get hammered. Forecast in the high country is for snow to be at two to three feet.