It Has Been 12 Days Since Mudslides Shut Down I-70 In Glenwood Canyon, And There’s No End To The Closure In Sight – CBS Denver

(CBS4) – It’s all arms on deck to scrub up and restore I-70 via Glenwood Canyon after fierce mudslides not solely broken the freeway however actually changed the course of the Colorado River. A 46 mile stretch of Interstate 70 has now been closed in western Colorado from Dotsero (Exit 133) to Glenwood Springs (Exit 116) for 13 straight days.

I-70 in Glenwood Canyon on Aug. 8. (credit score: CDOT)

Progress is being made, as seen in new pictures from the Colorado Division of Transportation. The company reviews that crews eliminated as much as 26 million kilos of fabric from the canyon between July 30, the day after the acute particles flows got here down, and Sunday.

“Our crews eliminated 440 truckloads of particles, which is implausible,” mentioned CDOT spokeswoman Elise Thatcher on Monday.

A complete of 189 upkeep workers from across the state are dealing with the closure administration and cleanup efforts. The particles should be eliminated so engineers can higher assess the injury to see what repairs will really entail.

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There’s nonetheless no estimate on when the interstate will reopen via Glenwood Canyon, however the expectation is just one lane of the roadway in every course shall be open when it does.

On Monday Gov. Jared Polis asked for $116 million from the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief program for the repairs. A part of the request asks that $11.6 million, or 10% of the full request, be issued in an expedited course of.

I-70 in Glenwood Canyon on Aug. 8. (credit score: CDOT)

That funding request continues to be an estimate and CDOT expects to replace the injury evaluation and funding wants within the subsequent 8 to 10 weeks. It additionally asks to check and assemble security enhancements to alternate routes to Glenwood Canyon like Cottonwood Move. That’s estimated to price greater than $50 million. State Sen. Ray Scott, a Republican who represents Mesa County, mentioned that’s one thing he needs the governor and CDOT addressed earlier than it got here to this.

“It was apparent that this was going to be an issue,” mentioned state Sen. Ray Scott, a Republican who represents Mesa County. “We’ve had cash sitting there ready to go. The main target has not been anyplace close to what we should always have had on that undertaking, now right here we’re.”

The governor additionally declared a state of emergency, which approved using the Colorado Nationwide Guard to assist handle visitors within the space.

The mudslides additionally briefly halted train service on Amtrak’s California Zephyr between Denver and Grand Junction however the service was restored late final week.

Why Are There Mudslides In Glenwood Canyon In 2021?

A number of mud and particles flows in Glenwood Canyon have occurred throughout heavy rainstorms this summer season, however none had been as harmful as those on July 30. The mudslides are a results of the Grizzly Creek Fire, which burned up and down the canyon partitions in 2020. The 32,631 acre hearth left a burn scar on the blackened canyonside that has little plant grown in it to maintain the soil from eroding when heavy rainstorms cross via.

What Is The Really helpful Detour Round The Closure?

CDOT recommends drivers take the choice path to get across the I-70 closure. That route is to the north of the canyon and provides roughly 2.5 hours to the drive in both course.

“It’s simply not a perfect place for brief detours,” mentioned CDOT Area 3 Transportation Director Mike Goolsby in July.

The next is the path to take:

WESTBOUND I-70: Motorists coming from the Denver metro space or Interstate 25 can journey westbound on I-70 to Silverthorne, then flip north onto Freeway 9. In Kremmling, vacationers ought to flip onto westbound Freeway 40 in direction of Steamboat Springs. After reaching Craig, motorists can return south through Freeway 13 in direction of Rifle. Entry to I-70 westbound is at Rifle.

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EASTBOUND I-70: Motorists touring eastbound from Utah or Grand Junction can attain the Denver metro space by touring north from Rifle on Freeway 13 to Craig. From there, head east on Freeway 40 via Steamboat Springs. Both take Freeway 131 south to Wolcott and onto I-70 from there or proceed on Freeway 40 via to Kremmling and head south on Freeway 9, then be a part of up with eastbound I-70 once more at Silverthorne.

RELATED: Glenwood Springs Visitors Say It’s Worth The Drive Around I-70 Closure