Fallen Boulder Closes Highway 119 In Boulder Canyon
BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - A fallen boulder forced Highway 119 in Boulder Canyon to close Monday morning.
The rock was so large officials said it took hours to clear the road. It was partially blocking the westbound lane.
Colorado Department of Transportation crews drilled into the rock to split it so they could push it off the road. The rock was too big to push even with a big front-end loader. It weighed about 12 to 15 tons.
The boulder left a large left a large imprint in the pavement similar to a pot hole that will have to be repaired.
"The moisture, it will get back in between there and loosen them up and then earlier in the spring you get freeze thaw cycle and moisture will get in there and rocks will start to move," said Chris Kelly, CDOT Senior Foreman.
No one was injured and no property was damaged as a result of the rockfall.
The road was opened to traffic Monday evening, but crews will also have to assess the canyon wall to see if there are other unstable rocks. Highway 119 will be closed on Tuesday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. for rock mitigation.
