I-70 Reopened Again Through Glenwood Canyon After Flash Flood Warning
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4) - As forewarned, Garfield County officials closed Interstate 70 in both directions between West Rifle and Dotsero at around 5:20 p.m. on Tuesday. About three hours later, the highway was reopened.
The closure was in response to a flash flood warning which took effect minutes before the closure.
The existing closure on I-70 has been moved to mm 87 West Rifle. Local traffic only east of the closure.
— Garfield 9-1-1 (@Garco911) June 30, 2021
The Colorado Department of Transportation says only local traffic will be allowed east of exit 109. They add drivers who wait out the closure have to wait at a location off of I-70. They say drivers will not be allowed to wait on the roadway.
The stretch of I-70 has been closed numerous times in the last few days because of mudslide brought on by rain on the Grizzly Creek Fire burn scar.
VIDEO: Rafters Witness Massive Mudslide Cascading Onto I-70 In Glenwood Canyon
CBS4 Meteorologist Lauren Whitney says that warning is in effect until 8 p.m.
Flash Flood Warning near Glenwood Springs as heavy rain is moving in. #cowx #4wx pic.twitter.com/69uX7WhbmB
— Lauren Whitney (@LaurenCBS4) June 29, 2021
The Grizzly Creek Fire burned 32,631 acres in and around Glenwood Canyon.
Sunday's main mudslide reached 80 feet wide and 5 feet deep in areas. On Saturday, the mud spread 70 feet wide and was 5 feet deep in places. Saturday's highway closure lasted several hours.