TRAVEL ADVISORY UPDATE: I-70 Glenwood Canyon closure on track for tomorrow

EAGLE and GARFIELD COUNTIES / GLENWOOD SPRINGS – Tomorrow, Wednesday, Aug. 10 and Thursday, Aug.11 Interstate 70 through Glenwood Canyon will be closed from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The eastbound closure point starts at Exit 116 (Glenwood Springs) and the westbound closure point starts at Exit 133 (Dotsero). The closure is necessary for helicopter operations associated with the emergency rockfall mitigation project.

All vehicles must exit, queuing will not be allowed. Colorado State Patrol will assist with traffic mitigation. CDOT urges motorists to plan ahead during this time and consider alternate routes. Residential access to No Name will be maintained until 2 p.m.

Alternate Routes for Passenger Vehicles

Cottonwood Pass, Frying Pan Road and Hagerman Pass are NOT recommended alternate routes.

Eastbound motorists/Grand Junction to Front Range

Exit 116 to CO 82 (Aspen/Independence Pass) to US 24 (Buena Vista) to CO 91 (Copper Mountain/Leadville) to Eastbound I-70. This route is only for vehicles under 35 ft. in length. This route is very scenic and approximately 40 miles longer. Independence Pass has a vehicle length restriction in place of 35 ft.   

Front Range/westbound motorists

US 40 from Exit 232 (Empire)

or

CO 9 (Silverthorne) to US 40 through Steamboat Springs, west on US 40 to Craig, then south on CO 13 to Rifle and back to I-70.

Front Range motorists/Summit County/westbound motorists

CO 91(Copper/Leadville – I-70 Exit 195) to US 24 (Buena Vista) north on CO 82 (Independence Pass/Aspen) to Glenwood Springs. This route is only for vehicles under 35 ft. in length. This route is very scenic and approximately 40 miles longer. Independence Pass has a vehicle length restriction in place of 35 ft.

Eagle County

CO 131 (Wolcott) to Steamboat Springs, west on US 40 to Craig, then south on CO 13 to Rifle and back to I-70.

This is a 203-mile alternate route that will take about three hours and 50 minutes to travel. This detour adds 146 miles and about three hours to a regular trip from Wolcott to Rifle on I-70, which is 67 miles or about 45 minutes.

Eagle County/westbound motorists

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. This is a 203-mile alternate route that will take about three hours and 50 minutes to travel. This detour adds 146 miles and about three hours to a regular trip from Wolcott to Rifle on I-70, which is 67 miles or about 45 minutes. CO 131 has an 8’6” width restriction.

South alternate route (west of Grand Junction or east of Vail)

Use 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.

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES:

CMV parking will be available at Exit 133 (Dotsero). On the Exit 116 Glenwood Springs side of the closure, Colorado State Patrol will be working to stage CMV on I-70. Please pay close attention to all traffic control in place and follow flagger instructions.

The following width restrictions are in place on several of the alternate routes:

CO 131: 8-foot width restriction

CO 9: North of I-70 12-foot width restriction

CO 13: 10-foot width restriction

CMV are restricted from using Independence Pass at all times which has a 35-foot length restriction in place.

The public information hotline number is (970) 618-1457 or email [email protected] to be added to the email distribution list.

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