Large boulder closes one lane of I-70

Author: PJ Edgell, Digital Content Director, pjedgell@kjct8.com
POSTED: 02:57 PM MST Jan 30, 2013    UPDATED: 11:49 AM MST Jan 28, 2013 
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. -

A boulder the size of a Volkswagen Beetle has blocked one westbound lane of Interstate-70 near Glenwood Springs.

According to CDOT Spokeswoman Nancy Shanks, the boulder fell about two miles west of the Hanging Lake exit on Monday just before 6:30 a.m.

Shanks said it was lucky that the rock was low on the hillside because it only caused a patch hole about one-foot in diameter and nobody was injured.

Crews are breaking up the boulder to remove it from the interstate.

One westbound lane of I-70 is closed for the time being.

Shanks said drivers can expect intermittent lane closures alternating for the next couple of hours at least.

Rockfall mitigation efforts take place in the Glenwood Canyon often, but Shanks said it's only useful for removing smaller rocks that sit high atop the mountain.



    

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