ASPEN — State highway crews hope to open Independence Pass for the season by May 30th.

Colorado Transportation Department spokeswoman Stacey Stegman says if the weather improves and avalanche-control work is successful, the highway between Aspen and Leadville could be opened earlier. But bad weather could delay the opening.

Colorado 82 reaches 12,095 feet over Independence Pass, about 100 miles southwest of Denver.