One lane of eastbound Interstate 70 reopened overnight but westbound lanes remain closed Wednesday morning in western Colorado after a landslide pushed mud, water and debris across more than 300 yards of the highway Monday, up to 3 feet deep in some parts.
The interstate had been closed for more than 24 hours between exit 97, near Silt, and exit 105, near New Castle. A detour is taking drivers onto U.S. 6, the Colorado Department of Transportation said, warning of delays.
There is no estimated time for reopening for westbound lanes.
The mudslide was brought on by torrential rain and hail that started about 7 p.m. Monday, according to Jason Smith, a CDOT regional transportation director.
“There is a lot of material for the crews to clear and water to drain,” Smith said in a news release. “We are working hard to get this cleared up to get this vital road back open as soon as possible.”
Moving like a river of mud and rock, debris flows can exceed speeds of 35 mph, CDOT warned. The destructive landslides are triggered by intense rainfall along areas where wildfires have burned, but can also happen in extremely dry conditions, CDOT said.
Flash flooding also shut down other streets along Peach Valley Road, which is also known as County Road 214, the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office said. County Road 214 was flooded at the intersection of County Road 262, northeast of Coal Ridge High School, and both roads were closed due to swift moving water and multiple logs in the road, the sheriff’s office said.
Along the Colorado River, heavy rains Monday caused a bridge blowout and intense debris flow near river mile 52, the Colorado division of the Bureau of Land Management said Tuesday, warning that boating between Pinball River access in Silt and Horse Creek River access, north of Dotsero, is not advised.
“Please use caution and avoid this section of the river until conditions improve,” officials posted on Facebook alongside photos showing heavy debris and muddy water.
More rain is forecast on the Western Slope on Tuesday and Wednesday, forecasters at the National Weather Service office in Grand Junction said. Heavy rainfall could trigger runoff, especially in and below burn scars, where vegetation that would normally absorb rainfall has been stripped away.
State transportation crews are monitoring highways near the Ferris and Gold Mountain fire burn scars on the Western Slope and are prepared to close roads on short notice if conditions become unsafe, the department said.
While rain showers have been a relief for parched western Colorado, a slow moving storm system triggered several mudslides last weekend that blocked roads and stranded 21 people.
Storms will reach the Front Range and Eastern Plains this week and with major fires still burning in the state, meteorologists are warning Coloradans to check the weather report before venturing out.
If you see mud, rocks or water flowing onto the highway, stop or pull over before reaching the flow area, CDOT said. Avoid cruise control, as cruise control on wet or slick pavement makes it hard to react to a sudden loss of traction, and avoid stopping under overpasses or unstable slopes, the department said. If trapped by rising water or a debris slide, stay inside your car if it is safe to do so and or move immediately to higher ground if water begins to enter the cabin.
CDOT is positioning loaders, plows and other heavy equipment ready to clear rockfalls and mudslides on major roads and in areas at risk for flash flooding and debris flow and will coordinate with the Colorado State Patrol, local emergency managers and the National Weather Service as conditions warrant.
If torrential rainfall creates imminent danger, CDOT may close high-risk stretches of highway, like I-70 in Glenwood Canyon, to proactively keep travelers safe, the department said.