I-70 De Beque Canyon rockslide site to remain closed overnight for mitigation tomorrow

MESA COUNTY – The Colorado Department of Transportation Geohazards team has determined, in the interest of safety, to keep eastbound I-70 at mile point 57 where a rockslide occurred earlier today closed for mitigation starting tomorrow morning. The location of the rockslide is eight miles east of Exit 49 the turnoff for CO 65 on the Grand Mesa (please see attached map). Only the eastbound lanes of I-70 are impacted.

Contractor Rock Solid, Inc. out of Grand Junction will mobilize a crane and crew to the scene at daybreak to continue evaluating the operation. Once the team has had a chance to assess, CDOT will have a better sense of how long the mitigation efforts may take.

“It’s prudent to err on the side of caution when it comes to rockfall mitigation,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “We appreciate motorists taking it slow and planning ahead for the increase in travel time on the detour route.”

DETOUR ROUTE:

• Exit 49 Colorado Highway 65 (Grand Mesa) head south approximately 10 miles and then take a left (heading east) on County Road 45 ½ (De Beque Cutoff Road).

• There will be a 12 foot width restriction in place for Commercial Vehicles. Additional  information regarding detour routes for Oversize/Overweight vehicles can be obtained from the CDOT OS/OW permitting office.

The rockslide occurred around 11:45 a.m. on Sunday, May 5. According to our partners at Colorado State Patrol, two vehicles were disabled in the slide and two people were transported with minor to moderate injuries. There is not a current update on the motorists who were transported.

TRAVELER INFORMATION

For information on travel conditions and road closures please visit COTRIP.org. Updates are also available via Twitter @coloradodot and CDOT’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/coloradodot.