I-70 reopens through Glenwood Canyon after semi crash
A semi crash closed eastbound lanes of I-70 in Glenwood Canyon on Thursday morning. All lanes reopened just before 4 p.m.
#I70 eastbound: Roadway reopened to traffic between Exit 129 - Bair Ranch and Exit 133 - Dotsero. https://t.co/Hwx19Y1guh
— Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) (@ColoradoDOT) July 7, 2022
That crash was expected to keep the interstate closed for several hours, possibly up to 8 hours. Eastbound lanes were closed for 6 hours following the crash. Westbound lanes were reduced to one lane for a time.
The crash happened just before 10 a.m. at mile marker 130, about three miles west of Dotsero, just outside the canyon. It took more than an hour to extricate the driver, a 38-year-old male from California. His injuries were not life-threatening.
Crews may have had to empty the tractor's saddle tanks, the side-mounted fuel tanks, before uprighting the truck. Colorado State Patrol doesn't know what load the semi was carrying, only that it was light or no load.
The Glenwood Canyon is closed eastbound between Glenwood Springs and Dotsero. The road will reopen in approximately 6-8 hours. Please be patient on the detour (H13-H40-H9). It's a beautiful day for the scenic route. @GypsumFire @ColoradoDOT @EagleCountySO @Garco911 pic.twitter.com/gYej7PmDoS
— CSP Eagle (@CSP_Eagle) July 7, 2022
The closure includes all eastbound lanes between Glenwood Springs and Dotsero. Initially, all lanes of I-70 were closed in the canyon. Westbound I-70 is open with one lane.
What caused the crash is being investigated.
Drivers were urged to plan an alternate route around the I-70 closure. If using the northern alternate route, via US 40, motorists should anticipate traffic at the Silverthorne interchange (exit 205) due to construction in the area.