Travel Over Independence Pass Strongly Discouraged As Detour For I-70 Closure Through Glenwood Canyon

PITKIN COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4)- The Colorado Department of Transportation is strongly discouraging travel over Independence Pass as a detour around the I-70 closure through Glenwood Canyon. I-70 has been closed for one week due to devastating mudslides and rock slides that caused a lot of damage to the interstate.

Drivers are also urged to not use Cottonwood Pass, Hagerman or McClure Pass. Instead, drivers were advised to follow the northern alternate route on Highway 13. The current detour route for Bustang between Rifle and Wolcott is CO. 13, U.S. 40, and CO. 131.

A 46-mile stretch of I-70 in Glenwood Canyon remains closed with no estimate on when it may reopen after the Grizzly Creek Fire burn area was targeted by flash floods resulting in devastating mudslides last week and over the past weekend.