For San Luis Valley residents traveling north toward Poncha Springs and Salida, Poncha Pass is a familiar stretch of highway.

At approximately 9,010 feet, the pass can experience rapidly changing weather, snow, ice, and blowing snow during winter.

Live highway cameras have helped motorists view conditions before making the trip. Now a petition is calling for two cameras on the pass to be restored.

A Petition to Restore Camera Coverage

A petition titled “Reinstall the Live Cameras on Poncha Pass” was launched on October 15, 2026.

The organizer is asking that two cameras previously located on Poncha Pass be restored and hopes to share collected signatures with appropriate CDOT officials.

The organizer recently contacted The San Luis Valley Beat to bring attention to the effort.

CDOT's Statewide Camera Changes

In July 2025, the Colorado Department of Transportation removed more than 90 cameras from its network as it transitioned away from a third-party provider.

CDOT has since begun a statewide camera replacement effort, including plans for 66 camera locations, with work expected to continue into 2027.

Poncha Pass has not been specifically identified among the publicly listed replacement locations. The timeline for restoring cameras there remains unclear.

Why It Matters to the Valley

U.S. Highway 285 is an important connection between the San Luis Valley, Salida, and communities farther north.

Residents use the route for medical appointments, shopping, business, and everyday travel.

Winter conditions on the pass can be very different from conditions on the Valley floor. Live cameras can provide an additional visual reference, although they cannot replace official road reports or safe driving judgment.

Road Conditions and the Petition

For official highway conditions, closures, and alerts, visit CDOT's traveler information service: CDOT COtrip

For more information about the camera replacement program, visit CDOT Camera Replacement Project

Readers can review the petition at Poncha Pass petition and decide for themselves whether to participate.

Editor's Note: The San Luis Valley Beat shares information about community concerns and public petitions as a service to readers. Coverage does not constitute an endorsement of the petition or its requested action.