Derelict Doug
  • Videos
    • Video Library
    • Recommended Videos
    • Rough Cuts
  • Posts
    • Vlog Posts
    • Twitter
  • Photos & Maps
    • Photo Library
    • Members Only Photos
    • Map of Colorado Historic Sites
  • Support
    • Merchandise
    • YouTube Membership

America's Most Deadly Roadway - The Million Dollar Highway

7/18/2019

1 Comment

 

Picture
The Million Dollar Highway is a spur of U.S. Highway 50, Also known as U.S. 550. The stretch from Silverton to Ouray is frequently called the Million Dollar Highway, but it goes by other names; such as the “Scenic Byway”. If you are being dramatic it’s referred to as the “Highway to Hell”. ​​

Picture
The road has made its way to several large publications and most dangerous lists. Popular Mechanics ranked it Number 3 of 10of the “Most Dangerous Roadways”. It is the only road in the continental US ranked by USA Today’s list of the “World's Most Dangerous Roads”. The automotive blog RoadCrazed and the DangerousRoads.org Rank the Million Dollar Highway as the most dangerous road worldwide. If you are measuring how dangerous a road is by the number of fatal accidents ​that happened on it the Million Dollar Highway is the winner, with no contest.  This is especially astonishing when we consider war zone roads, such as; Kabul-Jalalabad Highway (Afghanistan) and Nanga Parbat Pass (Pakistan) were included in most publications, considerations, and lists. Perhaps, the “Highway to Hell” isn’t such a bad name after all?

Picture
While the highway we see today was built in the 1880s, the original trail that it was built upon is one of the roads on the “Trails of the Ancients Byway”. In other words, this passageway dates back to the start of recorded history and then some. It provides insight into the lives and migration habits of the Ancestral Puebloans and the Navajo, Ute, and Apache people. With this much history, it has a big head start on the total death count and continues to add to its total each year. 

Picture
he first time you drive it, you’ll have sweaty palms. Expect sheer drops; over 2,000 feet, along the entire road and enough hairpins to make anyone seasick. This road claimed over 412 lives since 1992 and is nothing to be toyed with. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)  spends an average of $2 million per year, maintaining the 24-mile (38.6 km) section of highway. In an interview with the Telluride Times newspaper a CDOT representative; Nancy Shanks gave a few simple tips for surviving the Million Dollar Highway. Shanks said, “Know the conditions, (obey) the speed limit and, if you’re a truck driver, put your chains on.” But Seriously, if you decide to visits drive with care as this is a mountain road with hairpin curves, dangerous drop-offs, and no guardrails. If you are driving south you'll be on the outside with the “no guardrails view”. Do use caution and enjoy the majestic scenery. But leave the marveling to your passengers. This road requires 100% concentration and limited distractions. So passengers, please be considerate of your drivers' nerves (and perhaps be concerned for their sanity).

Picture
In other words, if guardrails aren’t your thing; this road is for you. The Million Dollar Highway also sports some seasonal hazards. In winter this ribbon of asphalt snakes through over 100 named avalanche paths and countless unnamed snow-runs. In the spring it is easily overcome by waterfalls and crumbling rock. 

Picture
This winter blasted Colorado with its third-largest snowpack to date (since the National Resource Conservation Service started recording data in 1987). The highway had 500 torrents of snow down its slopes that killed three people, fully buried two, and nearly overtook a snowplow. According to data from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center the highway only saw 54 slides in 2018 and 140 in 2017. Meaning we saw a 72% increase in avalanches in the last year. Due to the increased amount of snow, The Million Dollar Highway can expect an increase in falling rock and waterfalls until fall.

Picture
The origin of the name “Million Dollar Highway” is very disputed. There are several legends and myths associated with its name. One of the more popular myths believes that the fill dirt used to widen the original trail had over $1 million of gold ore within it. This has been proven possible; however, it would be more like $100 million of ore under this road.

Picture
Nancy Shanks weighed in on the topic of the name and pointed to the story of Otto Mears as the most likely origin of the name. Otto was an Estonian immigrant who had become locally famous for building the Galloping railroads and Rio Grande Southern railroads. Otto began dynamiting for a basic toll road above Ouray. At the time it was said that Mears spent $1,000 per foot to construct this road. When it’s all put together this equates to a road the cost a million dollars a mile to build. Shortly after, word of Otto's expensive engineering marvel spread and the small tollway became nationally known as the “Million Dollar Highway”.

Picture
While the road has been updated over the years it still holds its old world charm and real world danger. It is an honest rollercoaster of a ride and will weigh on your nerves. People with vertigo, seasickness, or prone to panic attacks should not attempt to drive the Million Dollar Highway. It is a real treat to see, given that you have the right weather conditions, you have an experienced driver, and nerves of steel.​

Raw Footage of Rain on the Million Dollar Highway:

Photos From the Day:


This video is also featured on Digg.com, "Here's Why US Highway 550 Is The Most Dangerous Road In America"

1 Comment


    Video Library
    Photo Library
    YouTube Channel


    Author

    Thank you for visiting! This is a collection of media from the lost and abandoned corners of the world. Please have a look around, I hope you enjoy. 

     ~Derelict Doug 

    Urban Explorers have two guiding principles:

    1-The best way to preserve history is to document it. 

    2-Take only memories and leave nothing

    #realurbex #explore


    Shop
    Shop
    Shop
    Shop
    Shop

    Archives

    April 2022
    November 2021
    July 2021
    April 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    July 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018


    RSS Feed


    Tweets by Derelict_Doug

    Categories

    All
    Abandoned Boats
    Abandoned Cemetery
    Abandoned Cities
    Abandoned Colorado
    Abandoned Freemasons
    Abandoned History
    Abandoned Homesteads
    Abandoned Hotels
    Abandoned Mansions
    Abandoned Retail
    Abandoned Schools
    DD Music Videos
    Forgotten Events
    Roadside Attractions

Libraries 

Photos
Vlog Posts
Soundtracks
Recommended Videos
​​Map of Colorado Historic Sites

Support

Derelict Doug Merchandise
Become a YouTube Member

​​Map of Colorado Historic Sites
​Media Approval and Review

Contact

Contact Doug
YouTube
Twitter
  • © COPYRIGHT 2023. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Cookie Opt Out | Request Your Information

Derelict Doug
  • Videos
    • Video Library
    • Recommended Videos
    • Rough Cuts
  • Posts
    • Vlog Posts
    • Twitter
  • Photos & Maps
    • Photo Library
    • Members Only Photos
    • Map of Colorado Historic Sites
  • Support
    • Merchandise
    • YouTube Membership