Rockfall Work in DeBeque Canyon On Monday - Expect Delays

MESA COUNTY – The Colorado Department of Transportation will be conducting some minor rockfall mitigation work this coming Monday. The work will involve the placement of some additional instruments between rocks in Debeque Canyon (near mile marker 53 on the west end of the canyon) to detect any movement or vibrations that may be a precursor to a rockfall incident. If determined necessary, crews will also conduct rock scaling (bringing rocks down by hand.)

"We've set several monitors in the canyon near mile marker 53," said CDOT Rockfall Specialist Ty Ortiz.  "The monitors can detect very small movements within the rock, which we hope will give us a warning of future rockfall."

TRAFFIC IMPACTS - Starting Monday at 9 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m., the right lane of eastbound traffic will be closed; there will also be intermittent full stops of both eastbound lanes throughout the day. If scaling is determined necessary, this will require a FULL CLOSURE of I-70 in both directions. Crews will make every effort to expedite these operations, but motorists urged to plan extra time for their trips. Delays will vary depending upon need for full closures and/or traffic volumes throughout the day.

CDOT thanks motorists for going “Slow for the Cone Zone!” Please log on to www.cotrip.org or call 511 for road conditions. Or sign up for e-mail and/or text alerts on our web site for your area of interest.