The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) announces extended closures of Interstate 70 Glenwood Canyon from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 10 and Thursday, Aug. 11, for both eastbound and westbound traffic.
CDOT says the closure is necessary so it can use a helicopter at mile point 124.2, just west of Hanging Lake Tunnel for rockfall work.
According to a statement on the department’s website, “… the eastbound closure point is at Exit 116 (Glenwood Springs), and the westbound closure point is at Exit 133 (Dotsero). Colorado State Patrol will assist with traffic mitigation, and all vehicles must exit; queuing will not be allowed.”
The department urges travelers to drive through the Glenwood Canyon before 9 a.m., or wait until the canyon is reopened at 3:30 p.m., and anticipate heavy traffic at the beginning and end points an hour before and two hours after reopening due to vehicle congestion.
Commercial Vehicle Routes:
CMV parking will be available at Exit 133 (Dotsero). The following width restrictions are in place on several of the alternate routes:
- CO 131: 8-foot width restriction
- CO 9 north of I-70: 12-foot width restriction
- CO 13: 10-foot width restriction
CMV are restricted from using Independence Pass, which has a 35-foot length restriction in place. On the Exit 116 Glenwood Springs side of the closure, Colorado State Patrol will be working to stage CMV on I-70. Please pay close attention to all traffic control in place and follow flagger instructions.
Cottonwood Pass, Frying Pan Road and Hagerman Pass are not recommended alternate routes.
ALTERNATE ROUTES/TRAFFIC IMPACTS FOR PASSENGER VEHICLES:
Eastbound motorists/Grand Junction to Front Range
Exit 116 to CO 82 (Aspen/Independence Pass) to US 24 (Buena Vista) to CO 91 (Copper Mountain/Leadville) to Eastbound I-70. This route is only for vehicles under 35 feet in length. This route is very scenic and approximately 40 miles longer. Independence Pass has a vehicle length restriction in place of 35 feet.
Front Range motorists/Summit County/westbound motorists
CO 91(Copper/Leadville – I-70 Exit 195) to US 24 (Buena Vista) north on CO 82 (Independence Pass/Aspen) to Glenwood Springs. This route is recommended only for vehicles under 35 feet in length. This route is a very scenic and approximately 40 miles longer. Independence Pass has a vehicle length restriction in place of 35 feet.
Front Range/westbound motorists
US 40 from Exit 232 (Empire)
or
CO 9 (Silverthorne) to US 40 through Steamboat Springs, west on US 40 to Craig, then south on CO 13 to Rifle and back to I-70.
Eagle County
CO 131 (Wolcott) to Steamboat Springs, west on US 40 to Craig, then south on CO 13 to Rifle and back to I-70.
This is a 203-mile alternate route that will take about three hours and 50 minutes to travel. This detour adds 146 miles and about three hours to a regular trip from Wolcott to Rifle on I-70, which is 67 miles or about 45 minutes.
South alternate route (west of Grand Junction or east of Vail)
Use US 50. Access to US 50 is available via Grand Junction for eastbound drivers and for westbound drivers by way of US 24/285 through the Salida area from the Front Range.
