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Week-Long Rockfall Mitigation Slows Stretch Of I-70

IDAHO SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4) - Crews worked throughout the day on Monday to decrease the danger of falling rocks on I-70 in the high country. From the Empire exit to Idaho Springs, work on this stretch of highway is planned all week.

"No big boulders this time, we're going to be doing a lot of handscaling, so it's a lot of smaller material we're expecting to come down," said Emily Wilfong from the Colorado Department of Transportation.

Workers dangled along the rock face from ropes and jarred clear anything and everything possible.

"This is a safety project as part of the peak period shoulder project which adds an express lane from Emprie to Idaho Springs," explained Wilfong.

In order to keep drivers safe, delays are put in place. That often creates frustration.

"It's been like this forever now. This has been what a good two, three years running," said one driver, Joe.

Traffic was diverted off the interstate during the closures, clogging the streets in Idaho Springs.

rockfall mitigation slow traffic
(credit: CBS)

"It's a cluster at this point, I don't think there's any organization going on," said Joe.

The work will continue during the daylight hours for the rest of the week.

"We'll try to get it open as soon as possible but we are telling people to prepare for up to 45 minute delays in that area," Wilfong said.

Once the rock scaling is done, crews will install mesh fencing to keep any future rocks from damaging the new wider roadway.

The peak period shoulder lane is set to debut at the end of October.

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