Colorado transportation officials are asking drivers to seek alternate routes after a truck crashed while traveling on I-70 through Glenwood Canyon on Friday.
At 12:30 p.m. on May 28, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) announced that I-70 was closed in both directions at mile markers 116 though 132 in Glenwood Canyon due to a “major rollover crash in the eastbound lanes.”
The Aspen Times reports that a semi truck traveling west on I-70 near the Hanging Lake exit “jumped the median” and crossed over into the eastbound lanes. The truck reportedly caught fire following the crash. It isn’t clear whether other vehicles were involved.
The truck driver is alert and conscious, according to reports.
CDOT offered the following detour information as a lengthy closure of up to 12 hours is expected:
Due to an extended closure, *eastbound* motorists on #I70 are advised to take the northern alternate route if traveling eastbound between Rifle and Eagle County, Summit County or the Denver metro area. Motorists should anticipate delays on the alternate route due to additional detour traffic. Westbound I-70 is closed at this time but the closure is expected to be shorter than for eastbound.
RECOMMENDED ALTERNATE ROUTE FOR EASTBOUND TRAVELERS:
Motorists traveling eastbound on I-70 can reach the Denver Metro area by turning north from I-70 onto Colorado Highway 13 at Rifle (Exit 90). Travel north on CO 13 to Craig, then turn east on US Highway 40 towards Kremmling. In Kremmling, motorists should head south on Colorado Highway 9 towards Silverthorne. In Silverthorne, motorists can rejoin eastbound I-70.
Before detouring onto any alternate route, motorists should refer to www.cotrip.org for the latest road conditions. CDOT strongly discourages travelers from using highways south of I-70 for an alternate route, due to extensive construction closures. CDOT also asks that motorists not use Cottonwood Pass Road (in Eagle/Garfield counties), Hagerman Pass, Eagle/Thomasville Road or other county or forest service roads in Eagle, Garfield and Pitkin counties as a detour. These roads are not built for heavy traffic or commercial oversize vehicles. Many of these four-wheel drive roads also do not have cell phone coverage.