Part of Interstate 70 through Colorado remains closed today following mudslides that covered the highway with debris starting the afternoon of Thursday, July 29.
The Colorado Department of Transportation said continued heavy rain at the Grizzly Creek burn scar Friday and Saturday created more mudslides and caused debris to cover the highway. CDOT operations and engineers said there was also damage to a viaduct in the 12.5-mil-long canyon in western Colorado.
Flash flooding began at about 4:30 p.m. Friday, stranding more than 100 motorists on the highway. Heavy rains continued and hampered repair efforts.
CDOT suggests truckers use Interstate 80 through Wyoming to avoid the closure.
Westbound motorists from the Denver metro area should exit I-70 at Exit 205 (Silverthorne) and travel north on Colorado Highway 9 towards Kremmling. Travelers will continue west on US Highway 40 and then south on CO 13 to complete the alternate route and return to westbound I-70 at Rifle (Exit 90).
Eastbound travelers can detour using the same route in reverse.
The Grizzly Creek wildfire started Aug. 10, 2020 and burned 32,631 acres in Glenwood Canyon in before it was declared 100% contained on Dec. 18, 2020.