Grand Junction’s Most Believable Reasons for Running Late

Traveling almost anywhere in Western Colorado usually comes with a slight chance that you might arrive late through no fault of your own. Sometimes we are late due to wildlife, or farm equipment, or maybe a decision from CDOT that impacts your schedule, even when you leave early.

Coloradans on the Western Slope know these moments all too well, and they are just another part of what makes living out here so special. Keep scrolling to see a few “running late” texts that come with built-in local credibility.

These Excuses Sound Made Up — But Out Here, They’re Real

In Western Colorado, we encounter delays that are uncommon in big cities, but can be a regular occurrence from Glenwood Springs to Ouray. You might be running late thanks to elk, a combine, or a smoke-filled canyon. These excuses might sound like you are joking if you live in Denver, but in Grand Junction, all these things could happen in one afternoon.

Thankfully, CPW tracks seasonal wildlife movement so you can stay ahead of it. BLM or the Forest Service might prescribe a burn to reduce wildfire fuel, but that smoke can lower visibility and slow traffic in the valley. Don’t forget rockslides and landslides. They happen here, too. It makes for several “creative excuses” that are part of daily life in Western Colorado.

Why These Excuses Work (Plus 5 Examples You Can Actually Use)

Five of the most common Western Slope delays that are also most believable include: elk in the road, you got behind a slow hay truck, a US-50 closure, a canyon rockfall, and smoke advisories or wildfire.

• There were elk in the road: Elk and deer migration and seasonal movements are common across Colorado, according to CPW; drivers often slow or stop for animals, especially at dawn/dusk.
• A hay truck/tractor was blocking traffic: harvest season and slow-moving farm machinery frequently use county roads and state highways; the slow-moving-vehicle emblem is common. Valid multiple times in late summer–fall.
• US-50 was closed/detoured (or another state highway delay): US-50 and other two-lane east-west connectors can close for crashes, weather, or maintenance, forcing long detours across the mesa.
• Glenwood Canyon/rockfall detour: Major rockfalls and closures in canyon corridors (Glenwood Canyon and Dotsero) have closed I-70 for days in the past; alternate routes add time.
• They started a prescribed burn and smoke/road access shut down: BLM/Forest Service prescribed burns happen to reduce wildfire risk; planned burns sometimes affect visibility and access on nearby forest roads.

Even When You’re Early, Things Change Fast

One thing Colorado does well is give you several resources when it comes to travel conditions around the state. Several of these links can often be very helpful to look at before hitting the road:

• CDOT travel alerts: real-time road closures and advisory pages.
• Colorado Parks and Wildlife: wildlife migration info.
• Colorado Geological Survey: landslide/rockslide info.
• Mesa County/Local Extension: “Respect the Rural” guidance.
• Farm & Safety Resources: Slow-moving vehicles/harvest safety.
• Traction/Chain Rules:  Colorado’s updated traction policy.
• Prescribed Burns: BLM scheduled burns and local prescribed burn reporting.

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