I-70 Rock Slide, as paged

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jimmnn

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Garfield County: I-70 closed both directions through Glenwood Canyon after a large rock slide has caused major damage to the interstate.

CDOT saying initial estimates of at least a 12 hour closure.

O/F 151.085, DTRS, Online

Jim<
 

jimmnn

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News From The Colorado Department of Transportation

Rockfall in Glenwood Canyon

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. I-70 is closed in both directions to all traffic at
Glenwood (mm 116) and a 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 to 10 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 incident.

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.
 

ErikB

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Slide

Here are a few pics of the slide...........
 

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jimmnn

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From CDOT

UPDATE: 2:00 PM
Scaling is still underway. We will know much more when work is complete later this afternoon. We will send any information we might have regarding possible re-open times as soon as possible.
Thank you for your continued help in getting the word out.


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 CDOT Media Room &mdash; CDOT periodically for news posts and photos.

Jim<
 

jimmnn

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Jefferson County/West Metro Fire and Rescue is streaming the MAC-17 traffic as well.

Intertesting to me there still using a statewide MAC channel so much, normally the comm plan for extended incidents get's moved to a more local TG.

Jim<
 

jimmnn

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UPDATE: 10:40 AM, MARCH 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.

Jim<
 
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