The San Juan Skyway has enticed visitors to tour Southwest Colorado since 1989. Now, the Colorado Transportation Commission has voted to approve a new scenic and historic byway that may keep them in the area longer and certainly will please railroad and history buffs.
According to a news release, the route for the proposed Tracks Across Borders Byway would follow the historic narrow gauge portion of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad from Durango to Chama, New Mexico.
“Many segments include travel on the original railroad grade, near many railroad remnants and through numerous ghost towns. In addition to travel between two states, it would offer stories related to the Native American and Hispanic cultures and stunning scenery,” the release said.
The byway would also connect two of Colorado’s most important and existing historic narrow gauge railroads: the Durango & Silverton and the Cumbres & Toltec, stated the Colorado Department of Transportation.
A winding route, the byway would begin in Durango and head east on U.S. Highway 160 to Elmore’s Corner, where drivers would head south on Colorado Highway 172 to Ignacio. In Ignacio, drivers will turn east on Colorado Highway 151 to Arboles, before continuing on Archuleta county roads 500 and 551 east and south into New Mexico. After the road transitions to a Rio Arriba County Road, drivers would continue east to Dulce, New Mexico, before heading on the final leg on U.S. Highway 164 to Chama.
“Byways designation helps identify, interpret and protect significant and irreplaceable resources along its route,” said Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Commissioner Dan Love. “It can also assist in promoting economic development by increasing visitor traffic and providing common goals to the community and major landowners along the route.”
The Colorado Transportation Commission voted to approve the byway at its regular meeting Thursday. The New Mexico Transportation Commission is expected to review and approve its state’s portion of the byway May 21.
If final approval is given, both CDOT and the New Mexico Department of Transportation would need to design and install signs, publish informational materials and plan opening events, so it’s likely the byway would not be official until 2016, CDOT communications manager Bob Griffith said.
The last time Colorado added a scenic and historic byway to the state was in 2005. This will bring the total to 28 and make Durango the focal point for two of them.
