All Lanes Reopened I-70 East Of Palisade
PALISADE, Colo. (CBS4)- All lanes of Interstate 70 east of Palisade have reopened after a large boulder measuring at least eight feet by eight feet closed all lanes for several hours.
The lanes were all reopened by 3 p.m.
The boulder came down onto the eastbound lanes early Wednesday morning. No vehicles were struck and no one was hurt when the large rock came tumbling down.
Smaller rock and debris fell into the westbound lanes but crews with the Colorado Department of Transportation decided to close all lanes of I-70 to traffic for safety reasons.
All lanes are expected to remain closed while crews examine the hillside for stability and remove the boulder.
CDOT rockfall contractor Yenter Companies is onsite and preparing to conduct rock scaling which includes bringing rocks down using pry bars and airbags.
Motorists were urged to check for lane closure updates on cotrip.org and/or calling 511.
I-70 DETOUR – Westbound travelers will take SH 65 over Grand Mesa, then US 50 from Delta up to Grand Junction. Eastbound travelers will take the same route in reverse. This approximately 90-mile detour will add about an hour and a half to trips.
The slide is 225 miles west of Denver and 18 miles east of Grand Junction.
Another slide closed one lane of Colorado 82 between Aspen and Independence Pass but caused no injuries.
