Rockfall in Glenwood Canyon <EXPAND POST FOR PHOTOS>

March 11, 2010 Update (3:10pm):
CDOT crews have opened I-70 through Glenwood Canyon in both directions.  Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction and will remain like this until long-term repairs can be completed in the coming weeks/months.  The speed limit has been reduced to 40 MPH and load over 14-feet wide are restricted from traveling through the work area.  CDOT wants to thank motorists and impacted communities for their patience during this time. More information to come tomorrow afternoon on repair plans.

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March 11, 2010 Update (9:00am):

CDOT Maintenance crews began clearing snow in the canyon early this morning and are now beginning work to make the repairs necessary to open a single lane of traffic in each direction today. They are clearing rock debris from all lanes (the blast brought down some dozen larger boulders (4 feet) and many smaller rocks), making repairs to the drainage system and completing roadway patching in numerous places. Crews have already set up traffic control cones/barrels and signage on the Interstate so that when repairs are complete, the highway can open quickly. We will send notice as soon as a re-open time is set today.

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March 10, 2010 Update (8:10pm):
Our geologists returned from the rock mitigation site safely and were very satisfied with the work that was accomplished today. With the blasting, there was a clean break of the rock from the slope and all of the rocks we were concerned about were knocked down. As a result, mitigation work will not be required tomorrow. Since the blasting brought down additional rock, crews will have some cleanup work tomorrow along with drainage work and final pavement repair. The good news is that one lane of eastbound and westbound I-70 will reopen by the end of the day tomorrow. We will keep you posted as we get close to a reopening time.

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March 10, 2010 Update (6:30pm):
Crews blasted the large rock just before 6 PM. CDOT maintenance crews immediately began work to clear the debris on the highway. They have worked throughout the day making the repairs necessary to open a lane of traffic in each direction when rockfall mitigation is complete. Because daylight is fading, the highway will not open tonight. Crews will hike to the site tomorrow morning to conduct follow-up rock scaling and assess the stability. CDOT will make every effort to get some portion of the interstate open to traffic tomorrow, March 11. Be assured we will send an update as soon as we begin any procedures to open a lane.

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Update 10:40 a.m. 3/10/2010

The helicopter is on scene—ready to drop off drilling equipment and a generator for planned drilling/blasting operations. If all goes well, crews anticipate bringing the boulder down early afternoon. When the boulder is down, the hillside scaled and stabilized, and any resulting highway damage is assessed, we can begin to send information regarding estimated highway re-open times. We will send notice as soon as the boulder is down.

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UPDATE 8:30 AM, MARCH 9

Crews have begun their hike up the hillside in Glenwood Canyon and will begin rock scaling by around 10:00 A.M. They will start scaling above the unstable rock and work towards it with the goal of prying it loose and/or gaining a better understanding of its stability. The rock is approximately 20 feet in diameter. Please check http://www.coloradodot.info/news/media-room.html periodically for news posts and photos.

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Link: Governor’s statement/disaster declaration

UPDATE 6:37 PM, MARCH 8

CDOT crews are completing work for the night – conditions are now too dark. I-70 will remain closed overnight.

CDOT geologists have determined that the rock above the highway is too unstable to remain in place. Early tomorrow morning, Tuesday March 9, rock scaling crews will be meeting to determine how best to mitigate the rock.

CDOT maintenance crews made great progress breaking up and clearing away the boulders today. We will send notice as soon as we receive details of the mitigation work. Crews are working fast and making every effort to get traffic safely flowing through the canyon again.

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Kathleen’s office spoke to Mayor Christensen of GWS and he says that no time line or plan is yet in place as it effects so much hwy, both bridges are severely damaged so says CDOT. Here is the official press release:

I-70 closed to all traffic in both directions between Glenwood Springs and Dotsero

GLENWOOD CANYON – Just after midnight, on March 8, a large rockfall incident hit I-70 in Glenwood Canyon, near mile marker 125 just west of Hanging Lake Tunnel. (The rockslide on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 2004, was in the same general area, though rocks came from a different location on the hillside.)

I-70 is closed in both directions to all traffic at Glenwood (mm 116) and at Dotsero (mm 133). While there is no estimate for a re-open time, Colorado Department of Transportation will blast and break up larger boulders today and continue work to assess when a portion of the roadway may be opened for travel. CDOT will implement emergency contracting procedures and meet with contractors over the next couple of days as crews develop repair plans.

It is estimated that this slide brought 20 boulders onto the interstate, ranging in size from 3 feet to10 feet in diameter. The largest is estimated to weigh about 66 tons. The rocks have 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 measures 6 feet by 6 feet. There are a half a dozen other holes and “dips” in the roadway, as well as areas where rocks are embedded. Most of these repair areas appear to be approximately 5 feet by 5 feet. Rocks are scattered over 100 yards of roadway. Also damaged are three sections (about 120 linear feet) of steel guard rail and 100 linear feet of median barrier. The damage is similar to that resulting from the 2004 rockfall incideny.

ALTERNATE ROUTES: from westbound I-70: exit at US 40/Empire to State Highway 13 and back to I-70; exit in Silverthorne and take State Highway 9 to US 40 and State Highway 13; exit at Wolcott/State Highway 131 to US 40 and State Highway 13. From eastbound I-70: exit at Rifle/State Highway 13 to US 40 and back to I-70. Travelers may also wish to use US highways 160, 285 and 50 if traveling to destinations south.

I-70 is not expected to open any time soon. CDOT appreciates the patience of travelers and want everyone to be assurred that crews are doing everything possible to get the roadway safely open to traffic.

Video of the rockfall site can be found at www.cotrip.org