GARFIELD COUNTY, Colo. — A stretch of Interstate 70 just west of Glenwood Springs reopened about 2 a.m. Saturday after it was closed for several hours due to two mudslides, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
The westbound right lane remained closed as of Sunday morning so crews could clear additional mud and debris, CDOT said. CDOT urged drivers to slow down in the area and watch for crews and heavy equipment.
The slides occurred about 1:30 p.m. Friday between Glenwood Springs and Wolcott. One mudslide covered about 1,000 feet of roadway, and the other covered 200 feet of roadway, CDOT said. In some areas, the slides measured three feet deep in mud.
The westbound lanes were covered with mud nearly up to the concrete barriers. Vehicles trapped by the slide were recovered.
CDOT used two loaders, two plows, a highway broom and four pumps to clear the mud from the interstate. Twenty-five CDOT workers were on the scene for traffic control and clean-up operations.
The eastbound lanes at New Castle reopened to traffic about 10:30 p.m. Friday. One westbound lane reopened just after 2 a.m., CDOT said.
The Colorado Department of Transportation had recommended that drivers take an alternate route via CO 82, CO 133 and US 50. The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office tweeted that Forest Service Road 800 was not a valid route to get around the closure.
WATCH BELOW: RAW video of the slide
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