CDOT Traffic Advisory

Eastbound Traffic Switch Tomorrow: Motorists Urged to Slow Down to the Posted 25 mph

GLENWOOD CANYON – The Colorado Department of Transportation and contractor Flatiron Construction will be switching eastbound traffic approaching the rockfall work zone tomorrow at 1 PM. At mile marker 125—about a half mile from the current work zone, eastbound traffic will be switched to the left (inside) lane to allow crews to make bridge deck repairs in the right lane.

Eastbound traffic will then shift back to the right lane just before Hanging Lake Tunnel, where both east- and westbound traffic utilize the eastbound lanes, separated by a concrete barrier.

Through the entire traffic-switch section and work zone, the speed limit is reduced to 25 MPH and there is a 14-foot width restriction. Traffic will remain in this configuration until this deck work is completed. Thank you for going “Slow for the Cone Zone!”

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, which will be on or before May 15.

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 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.

For information about other CDOT projects, the public may log on to www.coloradodot.info or call 511. To receive information directly, log on to this web site and click the icon in upper right corner entitled “Sign up for Email and Wireless Alerts.”