I-70 Sinkhole in Idaho Springs Area

July 19, 2012 - TRAFFIC ADVISORY - CLEAR CREEK COUNTY – The left lane of eastbound Interstate 70 is closed, just east of the Twin Tunnels, after a sinkhole opened up this afternoon.

Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) crews were notified about the sinkhole around 1 p.m. Further investigation indicated the hole is about 15 feet deep and 14 feet wide and may have opened up due to a couple of mine shafts weakening underneath the highway.

No injuries occurred and no vehicles were damaged due to the sinkhole.

The left lane will remain closed until tomorrow. Work currently is underway to shift traffic to the right towards the shoulder, allowing a second lane of eastbound I-70 to open.

Later this evening, CDOT will again reduce I-70 to a single lane through the area overnight, allowing crews to begin full-scale work to repair the hole and get the lane reopened as soon as possible. CDOT estimates the lane will reopen sometime tomorrow.

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