CDOT Media Release

Traffic Switch in Glenwood Canyon: Westbound traffic switched over to eastbound lane through rockfall work zone

March 30, 2010 – Northwestern Colorado/CDOT Region 3 – The Colorado Department of Transportation and contractor Flatiron Construction Corporation will switch traffic March 31, starting around 7 AM.

GLENWOOD CANYON – The Colorado Department of Transportation and contractor Flatiron Construction Corporation will switch traffic tomorrow, starting around 7 AM. Westbound traffic will be switched onto the inside eastbound lane through the work zone, separated from the single lane of eastbound traffic by a concrete barrier. Putting both directions of traffic onto the eastbound lanes will enable the contractor to complete repairs on the concrete retaining wall and the westbound bridge deck. While in this configuration, the speed limit for eastbound traffic will remain at the lowered 40 mph; the speed for westbound traffic will be lowered to 25 mph, however, due to the lane switches in this short section-which is approximately 1,000 feet. The width restriction remains at 14 feet.

REPAIR WORK: The repair work is taking place between mile markers 124 and 125, just west of Hanging Lake Tunnel. The work will involve bridge deck and bridge wall/rail repairs (including 150 feet of new steel bridge rail); guardrail repairs (about 120 linear feet) to hillside concrete barrier; median concrete barrier repair (replacement of 400 linear feet); removal and replacement of 690 square feet of concrete retaining walls; straightening of steel bridge girders using a flame straightening process; some lighting and electrical repairs; and repairs to the bike trail below. Finally, the contractor will use approximately 500 tons of base course material on the roadway, as well as 400 tons of patching asphalt to repair the driving surface.

REGULAR TRAFFIC IMPACTS: Work will be done during the day, Monday through Saturday. There will be a single lane of traffic open in each direction, but motorists may encounter occasional traffic stops, when safety or equipment mobilization warrant. The speed limit is reduced from 50 to 40 mph; delays should be very minimal. Motorists are urged to obey the reduced speed limit and maintain a safe following distance while driving through the work zone. There is a 14-foot width restriction. While the Glenwood Canyon bike path should open sometime in April, the section between the Shoshone power plant and Hanging Lake rest area will remain closed for safety until the project is completed in May. Thank you for going ” Slow for the Cone Zone !”

ROCKFALL INCIDENT INFORMATION: Just after midnight, on March 8, a large rockslide hit I-70 in Glenwood Canyon near mile marker 125, just west of Hanging Lake Tunnel. I-70 was closed in both directions to all traffic between Glenwood Springs (mm 116) and Dotsero (mm 133). The interstate reopened to a single lane of traffic in each direction on the afternoon of Thursday, March 11.

The rockfall brought 20 boulders onto the interstate, ranging in size from 3 feet to10 feet in diameter. The largest weighed about 66 tons. The rocks made holes in the elevated sections of roadway-the largest being in the westbound lanes (closest to the hillside) and measuring 20 feet by 10 feet. Another hole in the lower eastbound lanes measured 6 feet by 6 feet. There were a half a dozen other holes and “dips” in the roadway, as well as areas where rocks were embedded. Most of these repair areas were approximately 5 feet by 5 feet. Rocks were scattered over 100 yards of roadway. Also damaged were three sections of steel guard rail and median barrier.
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