Semi trucks and a tanker crashed in Glenwood Canyon on Interstate 70.
1.17.23, 9:45 am – Westbound I-70 continues to be closed due to a vehicle crash. Motorists should anticipate the westbound safety closure being in place until at least this evening (Mon. 1/17/2023). Westbound motorists will be routed onto the northern alternate route. The alternate route will add at least 2.5 hours travel time. Please see below for more info. Eastbound continues to be open. All updates will continue to post to COtrip.org.
Three trucks crashed in Glenwood Canyon on Interstate 70 near Glenwood Springs.
Northern alternate route: 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. 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.
Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority
1.17.23, 7:21 am – I-70 is closed at mile-marker 133 westbound, Dotsero, due to an accident.
Oct. 13, 2022, 9:10 a.m. – Motorists should plan for delays and occasional traffic holds on Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon starting at 9 a.m. today. The traffic impacts are anticipated to continue throughout the day and into the early evening. The traffic impacts are due to work to safely remove a crashed tractor trailer.
The crashed commercial motor vehicle is in the median near Mile Point 119 (No Name), east of Glenwood Springs. I-70 will be open with one lane in each direction for eastbound and westbound traffic. Crews will work as quickly and safely as possible to remove the cargo from the CMV trailer before removing the entire vehicle. Motorists should anticipate occasional traffic holds as crews place or remove heavy equipment.
The crash took place yesterday, Wednesday, Oct. 12. Motorists should use COtrip.org or CDOT’s free COtrip Planner mobile app to view travel impacts and, if necessary, plan an alternate route.
July 13, 2022 – 10:25 a.m. – I-70 is closed between mile-markers 116 and 133 EB, Glenwood Springs and Dotsero, for a planned closure to recover a vehicle.
De Beque Canyon I-70 eastbound daytime closures are planned for Tuesday, July 12 and Wednesday, July 13, in De Beque Canyon. Eastbound will be closed each day from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Eastbound motorists will be routed around the closure using the De Beque cutoff. Westbound will not be affected.
Glenwood Canyon Motorists should also anticipate a planned eastbound safety closure on Wednesday, July 13 for I-70 in Glenwood Canyon, starting at 10 a.m. The eastbound closure is anticipated to last until the late afternoon, conditions depending. CDOT asks that eastbound motorists plan alternate routes for the day. Westbound will not be affected.
Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority
4.12.22, 3:00 pm – I-70 is open at mile marker 116 eastbound, Glenwood Springs.
Colorado Department of Transportation
4.12.22, 2:57 pm – Between Exit 116: Glenwood Springs; Aspen and Exit 119: No Name (Glenwood Canyon) at Mile Point 116.6. The roadway is reopened to traffic.
4.12.22, 12:37 pm – I-70 eastbound is closed at Exit 116 (Glenwood Springs) due to a crash and vehicle recovery. This closure will continue to remain in place for several hours and is estimated to reopen late this afternoon. Please see cotrip.org/home for updates on reopening.
Glenwood Canyon semi vehicle recovery
Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority
4.12.22, 11:17 am – I-70 is closed at mile-marker 116 EB, Glenwood Springs, due to an accident in the canyon.
The Colorado Department of Transportation and contractor partners Lawrence Construction and IHC Scott have nearly completed the removal of material from the Colorado River in six locations. The work is part of several efforts to prepare Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon for possible 2022 spring runoff and summer debris flows. CDOT crews will soon resume a rockfall removal project in the canyon. Crews will continue previous work to clear rock caught by rockfall fencing, repair fencing and remove loose rock from the canyon walls. Midwest Rockfall, Inc. is the contractor on the rock fence repairs.
Before road repairs and river material removal at Blue Gulch (Mile Point 123.5) on I-70 in Glenwood Canyon.After road repairs and river material removal at Blue Gulch (Mile Point 123.5) on I-70 in Glenwood Canyon.
“CDOT has made tremendous progress in recovery from the 2021 mudflows,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “From fixing the road in record time to removing material from the river, as well as rockfall work and other mitigation, it’s been a team effort. And that team extends beyond this agency. CDOT will continue to work with agency partners to manage this complex section of I-70 and impacts on our vital alternate routes.”
Preparation efforts included two coordination exercises organized by the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Federal, state and local agencies met in Glenwood Springs and Gunnison on March 29 and 30 to review emergency response protocol for closures of I-70 in Glenwood Canyon. One hundred and seventy participants from more than 50 agencies participated in the tabletop exercises.
“The importance of partnerships in emergency operations cannot be understated,” said Kevin Klein, director of the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. “The response to the 2021 mudflows and rockslides demonstrated the value of our partnerships. Exercises help strengthen these relationships making us better prepared for future incidents.”
“It is truly encouraging to see turnout from so many federal, state and local agency partners,” said Director Lew. “We look forward to continuing to work together with stakeholders from along the I-70 corridor, the northern alternate route and the southern route to build on the lessons learned from 2020 and 2021.”
Mudslides in July 2021 prompted an extended safety closure on I-70 for approximately two weeks. CDOT crews worked around the clock to remove boulders, dirt, rocks and other debris from the highway. Road repairs were also necessary, and were completed in December 2021. Since January, contractor partners Lawrence Construction and IHC Scott have focused on removing material from the Colorado River at six locations. The debris piles at these locations were created in summer 2021 by mudslides and other material flows. Removing material significantly helps protect I-70 and other infrastructure in the canyon, by lowering the risk of damage from high water or new mudslides. The Federal Highway Administration has concurred that mitigating the risk of runoff is critical to protecting the interstate and will reimburse the state’s costs pursuant to the emergency relief program supporting the repairs to I-70 over the past several months. Work is weather dependent and motorists are reminded to drive the posted speeds through the work zone and drive for conditions.
Be prepared
For spring, summer and fall 2022, CDOT continues to have an I-70 Glenwood Canyon safety protocol in place to protect the traveling public. Motorists planning to travel on I-70, visit rest areas or use the recreation path in Glenwood Canyon should pay close attention to weather forecasts. If there is rain in the forecast, be prepared for a safety closure of I-70, rest areas and recreation path. CDOT recommends that travelers have a back up plan in the event that closures are necessary. If a closure is anticipated to last longer than two hours, CDOT continues to recommend that travelers use the northern alternate route.
Alternate route
If a safety closure of I-70 in Glenwood Canyon is anticipated to last longer than two hours, CDOT recommends a northern alternate route using Colorado Highway 9, US Highway 40 and Colorado Highway 13. Motorists should anticipate delays on the alternate route due to additional detour traffic and possible construction or maintenance projects.
WESTBOUND I-70: Motorists coming from the Denver metro area or Interstate 25 can travel westbound on I-70 to Silverthorne, then turn north onto CO 9. In Kremmling, travelers should turn onto westbound US Highway 40 towards Steamboat Springs. After reaching Craig, motorists can return south via CO 13 towards Rifle. Access to I-70 westbound is at Rifle.
EASTBOUND I-70: Motorists traveling eastbound from Utah or Grand Junction can reach the Denver Metro area by traveling the route above in reverse. CO 13 north to US 40 east to CO 9 south.
CDOT strongly discourages travelers from using highways south of I-70 for an alternate route, due to extensive construction closures on US Highway 50. CDOT also asks that motorists not use Cottonwood Pass Road (in Eagle/Garfield counties), Hagerman Pass, Eagle/Thomasville Road or other county or forest service roads in Eagle, Garfield and Pitkin counties as a detour. These roads are not built for heavy traffic or commercial oversize vehicles. Many of these four-wheel drive roads also do not have cell phone coverage. Motorists should be familiar with the recommended alternate route (more information below) and should check www.cotrip.orgfor the latest road conditions and route options. CDOT also recommends that travelers bring an emergency kit with water, snacks, a flashlight and a blanket, as mountain conditions often change suddenly.
One of the smaller debris flow areas, Unnamed Gulch, debris off haul.
For the week of March 28, the Shoshone ramp (Exit 123) will be closed to allow the project teams to stage equipment at this location. Water recreation users will not have access to the boat ramp this week.
The Lawrence team will utilize a westbound one lane closure from MP 122.5-126.
The IHC Scott team operation at the Unnamed Gulch location (MP 124) continues with excavation and loading out debris. IHC Scott will utilize the MP 122-124.5 lane closure for 11 hours each day from 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
Both the Lawrence and IHC Scott teams will continue with the eastbound one lane closure from MP 122-124.5 to haul off material.
Motorists should anticipate slower speeds throughout the canyon and an increase in truck traffic. Work is weather dependent and motorists are reminded to drive the posted speeds through the work zone and drive for conditions.
The GeoHazard project team anticipates they will restart the rockfall fence project sometime in mid April.
Motorists planning to travel on I-70 in Glenwood Canyon should pay attention to road conditions on cotrip.org and weather forecasts. Rest area and recreation path information is also available at cotrip.org. I-70 safety closure information can be found on CDOT’s website by clicking here.
Anticipated Traffic Impacts
? A westbound one lane closure from MP 122.5-126 will be in place for roadway work.
There will be an eastbound right lane closure from MP 122-124.5 for the Colorado River recovery work. This lane closure will be in place for 22 hours a day, from 8 a.m.-6 a.m. In order to accommodate commuter traffic, this lane closure will be lifted from 6 a.m.-8 a.m. each day.
? Work at some locations will be conducted from 8 a.m.-6 a.m. Monday-Friday, for maximum productivity.
? In the coming weeks, work may take place on the weekends if necessary to complete work before the end of April.
CDOT hosts a tour of project operations with (left to right) U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper, John Cater/FHWA, CDOT Resident Engineer Andrew Knapp and Region 3 Transportation Director Mike Goolsby.
Weather prevented work the week of Feb. 21 – 25.
On Friday, February 25, CDOT provided a tour of project operations with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper. Secretary Buttigieg and the senators received an update on the status of work in the canyon and the impacts from the summer 2021 material flows. CDOT appreciates that Secretary Buttigieg, Senator Bennet and Senator Hickenlooper took the time to learn about the hard work by CDOT and contractor crews in the canyon.
For the week of March 7, the IHC Scott team operation at the Unnamed Gulch location (MP 124) continues with excavation and loading out debris. Trucks will be transporting loads from project location to the Rifle storage area. IHC Scott will utilize the MP 123-124.5 lane closure for 11 hours each day from 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
Both teams will continue with the eastbound one lane closure from MP 122-124.5.
Motorists should anticipate slower speeds throughout the canyon and an increase in truck traffic. Work is weather dependent and motorists are reminded to drive the posted speeds through the work zone and drive for conditions.
The GeoHazard project team anticipates it will restart the rockfall fence project sometime in mid March.
Motorists planning to travel on I-70 in Glenwood Canyon should pay attention to road conditions on cotrip.org and weather forecasts. Rest area and recreation path information is also available at cotrip.org. I-70 safety closure information can be found on CDOT’s website by clicking here.
Anticipated traffic impacts
There will be an eastbound right lane closure from MP 122-124.5 for the Colorado River recovery work. This lane closure will be in place for 22 hours a day, from 8 a.m.-6 a.m. In order to accommodate commuter traffic, this lane closure will be lifted from 6 a.m.-8 a.m. each day.
Work at some locations will be conducted from 8 a.m.-6 a.m. Monday-Friday, for maximum productivity.
In the coming weeks, work may take place on the weekends if necessary to complete work before the end of April.
I-70 Glenwood Canyon Blue Gulch debris pile removal continues. There will be no lane closures beginning Friday, Feb.18 from 1 p.m. and continuing through Presidents’ Day, Feb. 21. Lane closures will resume 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 22.
Now that the IHC Scott team has completed the debris removal from the Devil’s Hole location (Mile Point 124.4), that operation has moved to the Unnamed Gulch location (MP 124). IHC Scott will utilize the MP 123-124.5 lane closure for 11 hours each day from 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
The Lawrence team continues debris removal at MP 123.5/Blue Gulch. For a birds-eye view of the progress at Blue Gulch please visit this link.
Both teams will continue with the eastbound one-lane closure from MP 123-124.5 after the Presidents Day weekend. Motorists should anticipate slower speeds throughout the canyon and an increase in truck traffic. Work is weather dependent and motorists are reminded to drive the posted speeds through the work zone and drive for conditions.
The GeoHazard project team anticipates it will restart the rockfall fence project sometime in early March.
Motorists planning to travel on I-70 in Glenwood Canyon should pay attention to road conditions on cotrip.org and weather forecasts. Rest area and recreation path information is also available at cotrip.org. I-70 safety closure information can be found on CDOT’s website by clicking here.
Anticipated traffic impacts ? There will be an eastbound right lane closure from MP 123-124.5 for the Colorado River recovery work. This lane closure will be in place for 22 hours a day, from 8 a.m.-6 a.m. In order to accommodate commuter traffic, this lane closure will be lifted from 6 a.m.-8 a.m. each day. ? Work at some locations will be conducted from 8 a.m.-6 a.m. Monday-Friday, for maximum productivity. ? In the coming weeks, work may take place on the weekends if necessary to complete work before the end of April.
Stay informed and connect with the project Project information is available at: ? Project website ? Project information hotline: 970-319-1887 ? Project email: I70GlenwoodCanyon@gmail.com
I-70 Glenwood Canyon Devil’s Hole debris pile removal is complete.
Tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 11 beginning at 8 p.m. the I-70 Glenwood Canyon Emergency Project will implement a rolling closure for eastbound traffic starting at Exit 116 (Glenwood Springs) to the project location at Mile Point 124.4. This closure is anticipated to take less than an hour but drivers should expect delays. The rolling closure is necessary to remove excavation equipment from the Colorado River bed at the Devil’s Hole location. Westbound traffic will not be impacted.
Great news! The IHC Scott team has completed the debris removal from the Devil’s Hole location (MP 124.4 ). That operation will now move to Unnamed Gulch (MP 124). IHC Scott continues night work and will utilize the mile point 123-124.5 lane closure for 22 hours each day for shift work from 8 a.m.-6 a.m. In order to accommodate commuter traffic, this lane closure will be lifted from 6 a.m.-8 a.m. each day.
The Lawrence team continues debris removal at MP 123.5/Blue Gulch. To increase production their team will be working 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. For a birdseye view of the progress at Blue Gulch please visit this link:https://fb.watch/b4VIz_UgcS/
Both teams will continue with the eastbound one lane closure from MP 123-124.5. Motorists should anticipate slower speeds throughout the canyon and an increase in truck traffic. Work is weather dependent and motorists are reminded to drive the posted speeds through the work zone and drive for conditions.
The GeoHazard project team anticipates they will restart the rockfall fence project sometime in late February/early March.
Motorists planning to travel on I-70 in Glenwood Canyon should pay attention to road conditions on cotrip.org and weather forecasts. Rest area and recreation path information is also available at cotrip.org. I-70 safety closure information can be found on CDOT’s website by clicking here. Anticipated Traffic Impacts
• There will be an eastbound right lane closure from MP 123-124.5 for the Colorado River recovery work. This lane closure will be in place for 22 hours a day, from 8 a.m.-6 a.m. In order to accommodate commuter traffic, this lane closure will be lifted from 6 a.m.-8 a.m. each day. • Work at some locations will be conducted from 8 a.m.-6 a.m. Monday-Friday, for maximum productivity. • In the coming weeks, work may take place on the weekends if necessary to complete work before the end of April.
I-70 Glenwood Canyon river bed excavation at Blue Gulch.
The IHC Scott team continues night work and will utilize the mile point 123-124.5 lane closure for 22 hours each day for shift work from 8 a.m.-6 a.m. In order to accommodate commuter traffic, this lane closure will be lifted from 6 a.m.-8 a.m. each day.
The Lawrence team has completed debris removal at Wagon Gulch. Work continues at MP 123.5/Blue Gulch.
Both teams will continue with the eastbound one lane closure from MP 123-124.5.
A daytime westbound one lane closure from MP 118.5-119 will be in place to assist with material hauling and roadway cleaning operations. This lane closure will be picked up on Friday afternoons from 3-6 p.m. to assist with traffic volumes.
Motorists should anticipate slower speeds throughout the canyon and an increase in truck traffic. Work is weather dependent and motorists are reminded to drive the posted speeds through the work zone and drive for conditions.
The GeoHazard project team anticipates they will restart the rockfall fence project sometime in late February/early March.
Motorists planning to travel on I-70 in Glenwood Canyon should pay attention to road conditions on cotrip.org and weather forecasts. Rest area and recreation path information is also available at cotrip.org. I-70 safety closure information can be found on CDOT’s website by clicking here.
Anticipated Traffic Impacts
There will be an eastbound right lane closure from MP 123-124.5 for the Colorado River recovery work. This lane closure will be in place for 22 hours a day, from 8 a.m.-6 a.m. In order to accommodate commuter traffic, this lane closure will be lifted from 6 a.m.-8 a.m. each day.
Work at some locations will be conducted from 8 a.m.-6 a.m. Monday-Friday, for maximum productivity.
A daytime westbound one lane closure from MP 118.5-119 will be in place to assist with roadway cleaning operations.
In the coming weeks, work may take place on the weekends if necessary to complete work before the end of April.
CDOT launched a new, easy-to-use COtrip website and mobile app with an updated 511 map for drivers to safely navigate Colorado roads. Visit the new mobile-friendly COtrip website at COtrip.org.
The GeoHazard project team anticipates they will restart the rockfall fence project sometime in mid April. 
