I-70 Mountain Corridor Advisory

News Release

August 10, 2020 - UPDATE: I-70 Glenwood Canyon closure to continue overnight

GARFIELD & EAGLE COUNTIES ― CDOT asks motorists to plan on I-70 in Glenwood Canyon to be closed overnight on Monday, Aug. 10. The safety closure is to allow CDOT specialists to assess two bridges located near where the Grizzly Creek Fire started, as well as increased rockfall hazard in Glenwood Canyon. Increased rockfall has been reported and is likely due to burned vegetation no longer holding rocks in place. CDOT asks that motorists *not* use Cottonwood Pass as a detour, due to fire activity. Please note the media contact for the Grizzly Creek Fire is David Boyd with the White River National Forest: 970-319-4895.

I-70 closure locations are at the following locations:

  • At Gypsum (Exit 140) for westbound I-70
  • At Glenwood Springs (Exit 116) for eastbound I-70.

CDOT continues to recommend the below detours for travelers. We understand these detours add several hours travel time, and appreciate that motorists understand the safety closure on I-70 is absolutely necessary.

Agencies are responding to the Grizzly Creek Fire in Glenwood Canyon, which began at Mile Point 120. Closures and delays may continue to be extensive. 

DETOUR ROUTES
CDOT recommends that travelers use highways to the south of I-70 while detouring:

  • Travelers heading westbound on I-70 can use US 24, CO 91, or CO 9 to US 285 US 50 and continue west.
  • Motorists headed east on I-70 can travel on US 50 to travel east towards US 24, CO 91 or CO 9 to return to I-70 eastbound, or continue east on 285 to the Denver metro area.
  • Motorists can take a northern detour of CO 131 to US 40 to CO 139. Please note that while CO 13 is open at this time, it is not a recommended detour due to construction. *Oversize commercial vehicles are not allowed due to construction conditions on CO 13. 

Delays are likely on these routes, as they do not normally carry traffic volumes as heavy as I-70. CDOT asks that motorists *not* use Cottonwood Pass, due to fire activity.

FIRE INFORMATION
Updates and information about the Grizzly Creek Fire can be found at the following locations: 

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6942/

970-930-1850

[email protected]

MEDIA CONTACT: David Boyd, White River National Forest: 970-319-4895


REMEMBER: SLOW FOR THE CONE ZONE 

The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones.

  • Do not speed in work zones. Obey the posted speed limits.

  • Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected.

  • Watch for workers. Drive with caution.

  • Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so

  • Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.

  • Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.

  • Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones.

  • Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you.

  • Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.

  • Be patient!

COVID-19  

Safe transportation infrastructure is essential for all of us, particularly for emergency first responders and freight drivers as Colorado navigates the COVID-19 pandemic. With that in mind, CDOT maintenance and construction crews follow social distancing and other health safety measures to reduce COVID-19 exposure on the worksite. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced guidelines for construction activities. The public is urged to join the campaign for #DoingMyPartCO by practicing social distancing and wearing face masks.  As traffic returns to normal levels, motorists must drive cautiously and heed the speed limit so all of us can return home safely. 

WHOLE SYSTEM. WHOLE SAFETY. 

In early 2019, CDOT announced its Whole System — Whole Safety initiative to heighten safety awareness. This initiative takes a systematic statewide approach to safety combining the benefits of CDOT’s programs that address driving behaviors, our built environment and the organization's operations. The goal is to improve the safety of Colorado’s transportation network by reducing the rate and severity of crashes and improving the safety of all transportation modes. The program has one simple mission—to get everyone home safely.

ABOUT CDOT 

CDOT has approximately 3,000 employees located throughout Colorado, and manages more than 23,000 lane miles of highway and 3,429 bridges. CDOT also manages grant partnerships with a range of other agencies, including metropolitan planning organizations, local governments and airports. It also administers Bustang, the state-owned and operated inter-regional express service. Gov. Jared Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s multimodal mobility options.