REGISTER for emergency alerts at garco911.com
SUBSCRIBE for emails from this feed - click at upper right
VIEW: Inciweb wildfires | CDOT routes | NOAA storms | CAIC avalanches
2.24.23, 3:06 p.m. – County Road 320, southwest of Rifle, is open between mile markers 10 and 10.5 in both directions.
2.24.23, 3:36 a.m. – County Road 320 is closed between mile markers 10 – 10.5 both directions, southwest of Rifle, due to an accident.
2.22.23, 4:58 pm – Snow squall warning until 5:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. Slow down or delay travel! Be ready for a sudden drop to near zero visibility and icy roads in heavy snow.
The National Weather Service in Grand Junction has issued a Snow Squall Warning for…southwestern Eagle County in west central Colorado…
northwestern Pitkin County in west central Colorado…
northeastern Mesa County in west central Colorado…
southeastern Garfield County in west central Colorado…
* Until 530 PM MST.
* At 456 PM MST, a dangerous snow squall was located along a line extending from near Gypsum to 21 miles east of Collbran, moving east at 30 mph.
HAZARD…Flash freeze on roads. Intense bursts of heavy snow. Gusty winds leading to blowing snow and visibility rapidly falling to less than one-quarter mile. Wind gusts greater than 50 mph could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.
SOURCE…Radar and webcams.
IMPACT…Dangerous and life-threatening travel conditions are expected to develop rapidly in the warning area.
This includes the following highways:
Interstate 70 in Colorado between mile markers 110 and 154.
Colorado 82 between mile markers 1 and 21.
Colorado 131 between mile markers 3 and 4.
Colorado 133 between mile markers 59 and 68.
Locations impacted include…Glenwood Springs, Eagle, Gypsum, Carbondale, Basalt, Dotsero, Cattle Creek, El Jebel, Emma and Shoshone.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Wet roadways will quickly freeze. Black ice will cause roads, bridges, and overpasses to become slick and dangerous. Slow down and be prepared for a sudden loss of traction.
Slow down! Rapid changes in visibility and road conditions are expected with this dangerous snow squall. Be alert for sudden whiteout conditions.
SNOW SQUALL…OBSERVED
SNOW SQUALL IMPACT…SIGNIFICANT
2.2.23, 2 a.m. – I-70 is open at mile marker 85 to 87 both directions, West Rifle area.
2.2.23, 1:26 a.m. – I-70 is closed at mile-marker 85 to 87 both directions, West Rifle Area, to clear elk herd from highway.
1.30.23, 11:42 p.m. – UPDATE: I-70 is open at mile marker 116 eastbound, Glenwood Springs. Glenwood Canyon is now open.
1.30.23, 10:14 p.m. – UPDATE: Westbound I-70 Glenwood Canyon REOPENS after vehicle crash. Crews worked throughout the day to safely clear away a crashed commercial motor vehicle. Crews have reopened westbound Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon after the extended closure. Eastbound I-70 is anticipated to open within the hour. The closure was necessary for crews to safely clear a commercial vehicle that crashed on I-70 east of Glenwood Springs, Road conditions are available at COtrip.org.
1.30.23, 1:24 p.m. – STATEWIDE – A safety closure is in place for Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon for eastbound and westbound traffic due to a vehicle crash. The extended closure is in place between exit 133 (Dotsero) and exit 116 (Glenwood Springs) and is expected to last at least through tonight. The commercial motor vehicle crash is located at Mile Point 124.6, east of Glenwood Springs, and will require extensive removal operations. The alternate routes will add several hours of travel time (more info below). All updates will continue to post to COtrip.org. More pictures will be posted on the CDOT Facebook page and added to a media kit folder as they become available.
One commercial motor vehicle was involved in the crash. The tractor-trailer crashed while traveling westbound, west of Hanging Lake Tunnel. The trailer is currently blocking westbound traffic, and the tractor traveled over the guardrail down onto eastbound lanes. Secondary crashes also took place nearby as vehicles tried to avoid the crashed CMV. Crews are working as quickly and safely as possible to clear the CMV, secondary crashes and motorists waiting in the queue behind the crash.
CDOT strongly advises motorists to check weather and travel conditions before using the northern or southern alternate routes. It is very important to check COtrip.org and weather forecasts before traveling on either route. They are more remote than I-70 and have limited cell service in places. Smartphone users can also use CDOT’s free COtrip Planner mobile app. Drivers should anticipate additional traffic on these routes.
To use the northern alternate route, westbound motorists from the Denver metro area will exit I-70 at exit 205 (Silverthorne) and travel north on Colorado Highway 9 towards Kremmling. At Kremmling, travelers will continue west on US Highway 40 until the intersection with Colorado Highway 13 in Craig. Turn south on CO 13 to complete the alternate route and return to westbound I-70 at Rifle (exits 87 or 90). Eastbound motorists can travel the same route in reverse. Motorists should be prepared for icy and snowpacked areas along this route and are encouraged to drive for the conditions.
To use the southern alternate route, westbound motorists from the Denver metro area can travel on US 285 to US 50, and continue west to Grand Junction. Travelers on I-70 can use CO 9 to US 285 south to US 50, or use CO 91 southwest to US 24 to US 50. Eastbound motorists traveling from the Grand Junction area can use US 50 east to US 285 and continue to Denver and areas nearby.
Know Before You Go
Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts and anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:
Check avalanche conditions at CAIC: www.avalanche.state.co.us
1.30.23, 11:50 a.m. – I-70 is closed in both directions between exit 133: Dotsero and exit 114: West Glenwood (Glenwood Springs) due to a semi-truck crash. Proceed with caution, expect lengthy delays. No detour available at this time.
1.30.23, 11:35 am – I-70 is closed between mile-markers 116-133 both directions, Glenwood Springs Canyon, due to an accident.
1.27.23, 12:52 pm – I-70 is open at mile marker 116 eastbound, Glenwood Springs.
1.27.23, 9:17 am – I-70 is closed at mile-marker 116 EB, Glenwood Springs, due to an accident in Glenwood Canyon.
1.17.23, 6:34 p.m. – I-70 is open at mile-marker 133 westbound, Dotsero.
1.17.23, 12:19 p.m. STATEWIDE — A safety closure is in place for westbound Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon at exit 133 (Dotsero) due to a multiple vehicle crash located further west at Mile Point 122.9. Motorists should anticipate the westbound safety closure being in place until at least this evening. Westbound motorists are being routed onto the northern alternate route. The alternate route will add at least 2.5 hours travel time. Please see below for more info about the northern alternate route. Eastbound I-70 remains open. All updates will continue to post to COtrip.org. More pictures will be posted on the CDOT Facebook page and the media kit folder as they become available.
Four commercial vehicles were involved in the crash. Crews are working as quickly and safely as possible to remove the vehicles. One vehicle is a tanker carrying gasoline. In order to clear the crash, crews are draining the remaining 7,000 gallons of gasoline into another tanker. Draining into the second tanker is anticipated to require at least four hours. The tanker spilled 3,000 gallons of gasoline after the crash. The spill has been stopped and a hazardous vehicle crew is overseeing clean up.
It is very important to check COtrip.org and weather forecasts before traveling on the northern alternate route. It is a more remote route with limited cell service and services. Smartphone users can also use CDOT’s free COtrip Planner mobile app.
To use the northern alternate route, westbound motorists from the Denver metro area will exit I-70 at exit 205 (Silverthorne) and travel north on Colorado Highway 9 towards Kremmling. At Kremmling, travelers will continue west on US Highway 40 until the intersection with Colorado Highway 13 in Craig. Turn south on CO 13 to complete the alternate route and return to westbound I-70 at Rifle (exits 87 or 90). Motorists should be prepared for icy and snowpacked areas along this route and are encouraged to drive for the conditions.
Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts and anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:
12.22.22, 11:23 pm – I-70 is open at mile marker 113 westbound, one mile west of west Glenwood Springs.
12.12.22, 8:16 pm – I-70 is closed at mile marker 113 westbound, one mile west of West Glenwood, due to an accident.
AVALANCHE WARNING
COLORADO AVALANCHE INFORMATION CENTER
RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER/BOULDER CO
516 PM MST SUN DEC 04 2022
Colorado Avalance Information Center
THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE COLORADO AVALANCHE INFORMATION CENTER.
Eagle CO-Garfield CO
1007 AM MST Fri Dec 2 2022
The National Weather Service in Grand Junction has issued a
HAZARD…Flash freeze on roads. Intense bursts of heavy snow and gusty winds leading to blowing snow and rapidly falling visibility. Wind gusts up to 35 mph.
SOURCE…Radar indicated.
IMPACT…Dangerous and life-threatening travel conditions are expected to develop rapidly in the warning area.
This includes the following highways…
Interstate 70 in Colorado between mile markers 69 and 136, including Glenwood Canyon.
Colorado 13 between mile markers 1 and 5.
Colorado 82 between mile markers 1 and 7.
Locations impacted include…
Glenwood Springs, Rifle, New Castle, Silt, Parachute, Battlement Mesa, Dotsero and Shoshone.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Wet roadways will quickly freeze. Black ice will cause roads, bridges, and overpasses to become slick and dangerous. Slow down and be prepared for a sudden loss of traction.
If traveling on a highway, find the nearest exit or rest area and park safely away from traffic. Allow snow squalls to pass before attempting to resume travel.