DENVER -- The Colorado Department of Transportation closed Interstate 70 between Georgetown and Silverthorne in both directions for several hours Tuesday for avalanche reduction work.
The closure started at 10:40 a.m. and CDOT warned drivers to "expect long delays." But both directions of the interstate were open again by 3:20 p.m.
It's one of many closures across Colorado because of avalanches or avalanche reduction work.
Avalanche Control possible on ALL mountain passes thruout State;Many roads & passes already closed for Avalanche work
— CDOT (@ColoradoDOT) January 10, 2017
Westbound I-70 reopened at both Georgetown and Beaver Brook just before 3 p.m. after hours of clearing snow following a triggered avalanche that scattered more than 10 feet of snow across the interstate in places.
upd,Open #I70WestM MM 248 Beaver Brook after avalanche work;Expect delays;Slower spds
— CDOT (@ColoradoDOT) January 10, 2017
upd,Open #I70WestM MM 228 Georgetown after avalanche work;Expect delays;Slower spds
— CDOT (@ColoradoDOT) January 10, 2017
The eastbound lanes, which had been closed from Vail to Silverthorne because of an avalanche and crashes, were reopened around 3:20 p.m.
upd I-70 EM open MM 205 Silverthorne after avalanche clean up;Slower spds,expect delays
— CDOT (@ColoradoDOT) January 10, 2017
Vail Pass was closed at 2:41 a.m. Tuesday because of an avalanche that covered the westbound and eastbound lanes of Interstate 70.
Berthoud Pass, U.S. 40, was closed at 6:31 a.m. Tuesday because of the high avalanche danger. Crews came in to do avalanche control work. It was initially expected to cause 20 minute delays, but at 7:30 a.m., the Colorado Department of Transportation tweeted that drivers should expect an extended closure.
Berthoud Pass reopened at 6 p.m.
Monarch Pass, U.S. 50, was closed for avalanche work Monday afternoon. It remains closed.
Red Mountain Pass & Molas Pass, U.S. 550, were closed from Monday afternoon through Tuesday afternoon. Traction and chain laws remain in place after its reopening Tuesday afternoon.
McClure Pass, CO 133, has been closed since Monday afternoon due to the avalanche danger.
A Grand Mesa access road, CO 65, has been closed since Monday afternoon because of an avalanche.
Loveland Pass, U.S. 6, has been closed since Sunday afternoon because of adverse conditions. It is likely to remain closed until at least Wednesday morning, CDOT said Tuesday afternoon.
A 32-mile section of CO 14, in Poudre Canyon, was closed Monday night because of adverse conditions. However, it reopened Monday at 10:50 a.m.
Get the latest road closures on the Colorado Department of Transportation's website.
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