GLENWOOD SPRINGS – The Grizzly Creek Fire near Glenwood Springs continues to spread to the north and south as of Thursday morning. So far it’s burned close to 4,000 acres. David Boyd with the White National Forest says a “Type 2” incident team focused on securing structures and protecting the Shoshone Power Plant on Wednesday.
I-70 is closed for an unestimated amount of time as a result of the fire. The lanes of the interstate are closed between Mile Posts 116 (Glenwood Springs) and 140 (Gypsum). The detours available will cost you time and they’ll take you well out of your way. Cottonwood Pass and Independence are now both closed after too many travelers attempted to use them as alternate routes. Neither of them is designed for heavy traffic or oversized vehicles.
Click here if you need more information on road conditions from CDOT
DETOUR ROUTES
– WESTBOUND I-70: 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 I-70: 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.
