Editor's note: Initial information from the Colorado Department of Transportation indicated no cars were damaged in this rock fall. Denver7 has since learned a 19-year-old Colorado Mesa University student athlete was seriously injured and his car badly damaged, by rock fragments that resulted from a boulder landing on the roadway. Read that story here.
The Follow Up
Colorado student athlete seriously injured by rockfall in De Beque Canyon
Original story:
MESA COUNTY, Colo. — A rockslide Friday night has closed the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 in DeBeque Canyon in Mesa County. Westbound traffic appears to be down to one lane in the area.
The slide took place at Mile Point 49 around 9:45 p.m., according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. They do not anticipate the slide to continue Saturday.
CDOT said crews have been working on clearing the slide since it was first reported. The slide includes more than one boulder. No vehicles were damaged in the during the rockfall.
Eastbound traffic is being diverted onto the DeBeque cutoff, which will route travelers off I-70 at exit 49 onto Colorado Highway 65 and then onto 45 ½ Road. Motorists should plan for an additional 45 minutes of travel time due to the detour.
Crews are working towards reopening a lane eastbound later today. CDOT anticipates a 30-minute traffic hold for westbound traffic will be necessary this afternoon in order for crews to safely break up the boulder.
