Debris brought down from the Grizzly Creek burn scar blocks the flow of the Colorado River on Thursday. Photo courtesy of the Colorado Department of Transportation.
UPDATE 11:35 A.M. FRIDAY, JULY 23: People should stay away from the Colorado River for now as here is heavy debris is expected to head downstream soon from Glenwood Canyon, a Garfield County alert states.
Interstate 70 remains closed as Colorado Department of Transportation workers assess impacts from major debris flows through Glenwood Canyon.
“Crews are continuing to assess the slide areas with particular attention to a debris field blocking the Colorado River at mile point 124, about one mile west of Hanging Lake Tunnel,” a CDOT release states. “The roadway was not impacted at this location but CDOT engineers are on site to evaluate any damage to structures.”
I-70 closure to remain in place until interstate surface can be assessed vaildaily.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from vaildaily.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The closure was announced at 4:53 p.m. Sunday.
Minutes before that road closure alert was issued, officals sent out a closure alert for just the Glenwood Springs Exit due to a flash flood warning.
A closure for a mudslide along I-70 on Saturday lasted several hours as crews worked to clear all four lanes from mud that spread 70 feet wide and was up to 5-foot deep in areas.
More debris flows are possible and motorists and others are advised to avoid traveling or recreating withing Glenwod Canyon, especially near the Grizzly Creek burn scar.
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Debris flow closure plan for I-70 dependent on 24-hour rainfall forecast postindependent.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from postindependent.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.