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Colorado Will Reroute Highway Around Boulder That Fell On It

DOLORES, Colo. (AP) — A boulder the size of a house that crashed onto a southwestern Colorado state highway last month will stay put. State officials plan to reroute the highway around it — saving taxpayers money and possibly creating a tourist attraction.

Rico boulders Sunday 2 (CDOT)
(credit: CDOT)

Democratic Gov. Jared Polis said Tuesday that Colorado will save about $200,000 by not blasting the 8.5 million pound boulder.

RICO ROCKSLIDE 6PKG.transfer_frame_197
(credit: CBS)

The boulder was the largest in a rockslide that destroyed the pavement along a stretch of Colorado Highway 145 near the town of Dolores on May 24.

Rico Rock Slide 11 (City of Ouray FB)
(credit: City of Ouray)

It will cost about $1.3 million to re-route the road, some of which will come from federal emergency funding.

Rico Rock Slide 10 (CDOT FB)
(credit: CDOT)

Polis said people will also have the opportunity to see the boulder dubbed "Memorial Rock." It fell on Memorial Day weekend.

RICO ROCKSLIDE 5VO.transfer_frame_386
(credit: CBS)

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