16 Feb 2016- I-70 closed in western Colorado

[noFanofCB]

Lots of rocks have come down onto the highway.
Will take several days to get ONE LANE open. Will take more to restore to normal.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/traf...stern-colorado

[glc]

The published detour (CO-13/US-40/CO-131) adds 140 miles. If you are going between Utah and Kansas, the following only adds about 40 miles and is very scenic:

At Grand Junction, take US-50 to Penrose, CO-115 to Colorado Springs, and US-24 to Limon.

This also bypasses Denver traffic. You can use CO-83 to bypass most of Colorado Springs.

If you need to go through Denver, US-50/US-285 is a recommended alternate, that adds about 90 miles.

Reading at cotrip.org, they are hoping to get 1 lane open, with alternating traffic and pilot cars, sometime tomorrow. They are estimating "several more days" before they can get 1 lane open in each direction and several weeks before getting back to normal traffic flow.

[glc]

Updated status on cotrip.org:

I-70 remains closed in both directions between Glenwood Springs and Gypsum due to a rockslide. I-70 is estimated to reopen on Saturday or Sunday this weekend. Ultimately, the opening time and day will be dependent CDOT’s ability to complete mitigation and clear the roadway with the current weather conditions. Updates to the schedule will be posted here and recorded on the 511 phone line. A press release announcement, as well as postings on www.cotrip.org and the 511 phone line, will occur by noon tomorrow. Alternate Route Information: The North Route uses US 40: North on CO 131 Wolcott-Steamboat Springs, west on US 40 to Craig, then south on CO 13 to Rifle at I-70. This is a 203-mile, nearly 4-hour alternate route. The South Route uses US 50 via Grand Junction. The Glenwood Rockfall Travel Alert has more information. Note: Cottonwood Pass and Independence Pass remain closed for the season.

[glc]

I-70 remains closed in both directions between Glenwood Springs and Gypsum due to a rockslide. I-70 is closed through the weekend with a possible opening on Sunday. Ultimately, the opening time and day will be dependent CDOT’s ability to complete mitigation and clear the roadway with the current weather conditions. Updates will be posted on www.cotrip.org and the 511 phone line....Alternate Route Information: Front Range Motorists Heading Westbound: US 40 west (Steamboat Springs) west on US 40 (Craig) south to CO 13 (Rifle) Summit County/Westbound Motorists: CO 9 (Silverthorne) to US 40 (Steamboat Springs) west on US 40 (Craig) south to CO 13 (Rifle) Eagle County/Westbound Motorists: The north alternate route for westbound motorists is north on CO 131 at Wolcott to Steamboat Springs, west on US 40 to Craig, then south on CO 13 to Rifle and back to I-70. The south alternate route uses US 50. Access to US 50 is available via Grand Junction for eastbound drivers and for westbound drivers by way of US 24/285 through the Salida area from the Front Range. (Please note, there is construction on US 24 over Trout Creek Pass east of Johnson Village in Chaffee County into early March; some blasting and up to 30-minute delays may be encountered.) The Glenwood Rockfall Travel Alert has more information. Note: Cottonwood Pass and Independence Pass remain closed for the season. Estimated detour travel time is 4 hours.

[glc]

Latest info:

I-70 through Glenwood Canyon is open to traffic, with a 10 ft. width restriction, in a pilot car configuration. Eastbound alternating traffic will occur at Exit 116 in Glenwood Springs and Westbound traffic at Exit 129 at Bair Ranch rest area. Pilot car operations will continue overnight until 9am Monday when daily closures will begin 9am to 4pm until further notice for additional rockfall mitigation efforts. Traffic delays up to one hour or more should be expected.