CDOT Partially Reopens I-70 In Glenwood Canyon Following Rock Slide
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4) - The Colorado Department of Transportation partially reopened a crucial stretch of Interstate 70 through Glenwood Canyon following a rock slide last week.
CDOT has been working since Wednesday to open the road. The closure was forcing frustrated drivers to take long detours.
Many of the big rocks higher up were off the mountain Saturday and crews worked on a rock nest Sunday. Three very large boulders were brought down on Sunday weighing 2-5 tons each.
CDOT reopened the road at 6 p.m. Sunday in a pilot car configuration.
There is still a lot of work that needs to be done. Drivers will notice a lot of rock on the roadway that will be cleaned up over time.
More than 400 tons of rock needed to be mitigated and were brought down over the past week.
CDOT will once again close the highway at 9 a.m. Monday until 4 p.m. to clear more rocks. That pattern will continue over the next several days. It allows drivers to get through at key commute times but then allows crews to clear rocks during the day.
Eastbound traffic will be routed into one lane at exit 116 at Glenwood Springs and then be one lane to Bear Creek. Westbound traffic will be one lane at exit 129, Bear Ranch, all the way to the east side of the Hanging Lake Tunnel. The pilot car will be between Bear Creek and the Hanging Lake Tunnel.
CDOT said it's important for people commuting to know they have to get there early because of the pilot car delays. Delays of one hour or more are expected.
People are still encouraged to use the detours.
LINK: Traffic Section
Additional Resources
Read a news release from CDOT that includes more information on the closure, travel impacts and alternate routes.
