GoI70

Photo courtesy of Colorado Department of Transportation

Update at 4:10 pm: CDOT worked through the morning and most of the afternoon preparing a large area of loose rock for blasting and scaling. The agency says that the blasting is scheduled to be done by 5 pm. After the rock is cleared, they will assess any further damage to the road and then announce a timeline for opening the eastbound lanes of the highway to two way traffic. Stay tuned.

Original Post: I-70 remained closed Tuesday between Glenwood Springs and Dotsero while CDOT crews cleaned debris from the roadway and another group worked to dislodge loose rock on a steep slope almost 1000 feet above the highway. Around 8 pm Tuesday, CDOT sent out word that they have suspended the rockfall mitigation for the night. And, to the disappointment of many, there is “still no ETA for I-70 (to) reopen.” We’ll take the liberty of restating this rather terse statement as follows, “We don’t know when we can open the road; this is a real mess.”

According to CDOT late Tuesday night, the plan is to complete the rock mitigation and then repair the eastbound lanes so that traffic can be routed one lane in each direction along the less damaged part of the highway. CDOT isn’t saying yet, but based on past experience and the extent of the damage to the westbound lanes, it could be a matter of months before the highway is returned to full 4 lane travel.

How do You Get from A to B?

Meanwhile, the search for the best alternative route goes on for the 20,000 travelers who cross this section of highway every day. We want to say a word of caution to those of you who are considering taking an alternate route from the Front Range to Grand Junction or vice versa. A careful look at the National Weather Service forecasts and the current weather radar are just as essential to picking the right route as is a good map.

All the alternative roads are primarily two lane mountain highways. They go over very steep terrain and can be challenging driving for even the most experienced motorists. There will be heavy traffic from the many motorists and truckers who are inconvenienced by the Glenwood Canyon closure.

Finally, it is winter! A sunny afternoon can turn into a vicious evening squall in a matter of minutes. Check your tires; take some blankets and food; know where you are going.

The Northern Alternatives

For those who are making the trip from the Front Range to Grand Junction there are two possible northern routes which add around 3 hours – plus or minus – to the trip.  The two alternative routes combine CO13 from Rifle to Craig on the west junction with I-70, US40 from Craig to Kremmling and, either, CO9 to Silverthorne or US40 to Empire Junction at the east end of the detour.

Locals and other experts will debate which of the two routes is best, but there is no clear cut answer. Weather and the time and day of the trip will play a huge role in determining how long it takes along the two alternate routes. If it is snowing on the Continental Divide or travelers are on the highway during the weekend peak ski traffic, then taking US40 to or from Empire Junction will avoid the sometimes long delays up to and down from the Eisenhower Tunnel. If the roads are clear and I-70 is not at capacity, then the route through Silverthorne avoids Berthoud Pass and puts more miles on the Interstate at cruising speed.

The Southern Alternatives

The southern detour offers even more possibilities depending on where the traveler is headed. Once again there is a single end point at western end of the trip – whether that is the beginning or end of the trip. US50 runs from Grand Junction over Monarch Pass to Poncha Springs (near Salida) where the traveler has a variety of choices to make. From Poncha Springs, travelers can rejoin I-70 at Vail by following US285 north to US24  through Leadville, or at Frisco by following US285 to CO9. Or, they can go directly into Denver on US285 through South Park, to Colorado Springs by linking US285 to US24 east or Pueblo by continuing on US50.

The southern route from Denver to Grand Junction is a bit shorter than the the northern route, but that only tells a part of the story. In the past month, these roads have seen heavy snows and frequent road closures. Monarch Pass has been closed off and on because of weather, avalanche danger and multiple car accidents during the past two days following the rock fall in Glenwood Canyon. If it is snowing on the southern routes, the distance of the trip is the least important factor in choosing your way.

I-70 is a Local Road

Finally, I-70 serves as Main Street for the the scores of mountain communities along its way. For the many people who use the highway to commute from points west of Glenwood Springs to work in the businesses around Beaver Creek, Vail and Copper Mountain or who travel from points east to work in the Roaring Fork Valley, their regular hour long commutes have suddenly become epic journeys. There just aren’t any easy back road workarounds. Our sympathies go out to the working stiffs, as well as to the cross country voyagers.