I-70 remains closed in Glenwood Canyon. Here what you need to get around it.

GARFIELD COUNTY – The Grizzly Creek Fire continues to grow in size with roughly 32-hundred acres burned as of Tuesday night. The wildfire is keeping I-70 closed in Glenwood Canyon and according to CDOT, they really can’t give an estimate on just how long the interstate will stay closed.

 I-70 is closed between Mile Posts 116 (Glenwood Springs) and 140 (Gypsum). The closure allows CDOT to assess two bridges located near where the Grizzly Creek Fire started, as well as increased rockfall hazard in Glenwood Canyon. Both assessments are taking place today. Rockfall has been reported and is likely being caused by the loss of vegetation to hold those rocks in place.

CDOT has paused some construction projects to allow for detour traffic. They’re asking motorists to avoid using Cottonwood Pass or Independence Pass as detour routes because neither of them are built for heavy traffic flows or many commercial vehicles.

DETOUR ROUTES

– WESTBOUND: Drivers can take US 285 to US 50, and continue west to Grand Junction. Travelers on I-70 can use CO 9 to US 285 south to US 50, or use CO 91 southwest to US 24 to US 50. 

– EASTBOUND: Drivers traveling from Grand Junction can use US 50 east to US 285 and continue to Denver. Motorists headed to areas west of Denver can also use the westbound detour in reverse.

For residents and businesses north of I-70, the following alternate routes are best:

– WESTBOUND: Motorists can connect to US 40 via CO 9 or CO 131. To continue to Grand Junction, take CO 139 south to I-70. CDOT advises commercial traffic to use CO 9 instead of CO 131, for safety purposes. Please note that while CO 13 is open at this time, it is not a recommended detour due to construction. Oversize commercial vehicles are not allowed on CO 13 due to construction.

-EASTBOUND: Near Fruita, motorists can travel north on CO 139 to US 40, then south on CO 131 or CO 9, returning to I-70. As stated above, CO 13 is not recommended due to construction.

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