Independence Pass open " so far

ASPEN ” Highway 82 over Independence Pass was opened at 2 p.m. Thursday as promised, but winter weather could force the Colorado Department of Transportation to close it again.

A cold rain fell Thursday afternoon in Aspen, but “adverse weather” exists within about a mile of either side of the 12,095-foot summit of the pass, east of Aspen, CDOT warned. Winter conditions still exist on the pass and motorists should be prepared for winter driving, the agency said.

If the weather worsens, or visibility decreases, maintenance crews may close off access to the pass again, temporarily, CDOT said in a press release.

Go to http://www.cotrip.org for updated road conditions (click on Alerts and Restrictions).