Rest areas, bike path and river access continue to be closed in Glenwood Canyon

Travel Advisory

October 13, 2020 - I-70 Mountain Corridor - Recreational access closures are to ensure safety

I-70 MOUNTAIN CORRIDOR ― Glenwood Canyon rest areas, bike path and river access remain closed in order to ensure safety. These closures are to protect motorists, cyclists and hikers from potential debris flows, mudslides or rockfall along Interstate 70 in the canyon, which are more likely due impacts from the Grizzly Creek Fire. Travelers on I-70 and visitors are not allowed to stop in Glenwood Canyon, to ensure that the Colorado Department of Transportation and law enforcement can evacuate the canyon as quickly as possible in the event of a safety closure on I-70.

CDOT, the U.S. Forest Service, Garfield County, Eagle County, and the Colorado State Patrol will reassess conditions this winter to determine when it will be safe to reopen the No Name, Grizzly Creek, Hanging Lake, Shoshone and Bair Ranch rest areas. CDOT asks that travelers instead use the rest areas in Edwards (via Exit 163 to 220 Edwards Access Rd, Edwards, CO 81632) and Rifle (via Exit 90 to Lion Park Circle, Rifle, CO 81650).

Rest areas, the bike path and river access have been closed since the beginning of the Grizzly Creek Fire on Aug. 10. The safety closures have continued in order to ensure travelers stay on I-70 while traveling in Glenwood Canyon. The canyon is vulnerable to debris flow, mudslides and rockfall after moderate, heavy or extreme rainfall. Also, several rest areas and hiking trails in the canyon are located in drainages, where debris flow and mudslides are more likely to take place. Hiking is not safe because of the potential debris flow as well as fire activity continuing in some areas.

The Glenwood Canyon bike path will remain closed between No Name (Exit 119) and Bair Ranch (Exit 129) until 2021, so that crews can repair damage caused by rockfall during the Grizzly Creek Fire. Limited use of the bike path is allowed from Glenwood Springs to No Name, to allow No Name residents to commute to work by bicycle. 

River access to the Colorado River also continues to be closed, to ensure safety.

Motorists planning to travel on I-70 in Glenwood Canyon should pay close attention to weather forecasts. If there is rain in the forecast, be prepared for a safety closure of I-70 due to the potential for debris flow, mudslide and rockfall. CDOT recommends picking an alternate route in case the canyon closes. Please refer to COtrip.org for the latest road conditions and route options. Motorists should be wary of using GPS navigation apps for searching alternate routes, since not all platforms provide up-to-date information. Travelers should avoid using county or forest roads as alternate routes, as road conditions may not be favorable. CDOT also recommends that travelers bring an emergency kit, with water, snacks, a flashlight and a blanket, as mountain conditions often change suddenly in the fall season.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts and anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:

 

FIRE INFORMATION

Agencies are responding to the Grizzly Creek Fire in Glenwood Canyon. Updates and information can be found at inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6942/. 


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.