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Eastbound lanes reopen after mudslide closes I-70 in Glenwood Canyon

Westbound traffic continues to be closed
Mudslide on I-70 through Glenwood Canyon_June 27 2021
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GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. — For a second day in a row, both directions of Interstate 70 through Glenwood Canyon were shut down Sunday. The eastbound lanes reopened around 3 p.m. Monday. Westbound traffic continues to be closed.

The Colorado Department of Transportation said another mudslide Sunday prompted officials to close the interstate from the Glenwood Springs exit to Dotsero overnight into Monday. Westbound lanes are expected to reopen later in the evening Monday.

On Saturday, the same section of the interstate was shut down for several hours after a 70-foot wide mudslide from the Grizzly Creek Fire burn scar buried the highway near No Name. All lanes reopened around 10 p.m.

Heavy rain falling in the area has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a flash flood warning for the burn scar area until 6:30 p.m. Sunday. More rain is in the forecast, so there is the potential for more mudslides and road closures, CDOT said.

The agency said it is working to coordinate with the Kansas Department of Transportation and Utah Department of Transportation regarding potential ongoing impacts to I-70 this week.

CDOT crews will continue clearing the debris Sunday night and Monday morning.

No injuries have been reported.

There is no estimated time on when the highway will reopen. CDOT is only allowing local traffic east of Exit 109.

An alternate route includes at least a two-hour-long detour. Westbound traffic can exit at Silverthorne and travel north on Colorado 9 to U.S. 40, then west to Craig. From Craig, take Colorado 13 south to Rifle and back on I-70. Eastbound traffic will need to exit at Rifle and take the same route in the other direction.

Map around I-70 mudslide_June 27 2021
A map of the detour around Glenwood Canyon from several mudslides that took place over the weekend. Motorists coming from the Denver metro area or Interstate 25 can travel westbound on I-70 to Silverthorne, then turn north onto CO 9. In Kremmling, travelers should turn onto westbound US Highway 40 towards Steamboat Springs. After reaching Craig, motorists can return south via CO 13 towards Rifle. Access to I-70 westbound is at Rifle. Motorists traveling eastbound from Utah or Grand Junction can reach the Denver Metro area by traveling the route above in reverse.