Glenwood Canyon Rock Slide: Colorado Rock Slide Closes i-70

by amyellensoden | March 8, 2010 at 12:54 pm

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Colorado Rock Slide Hits Glenwood Canyon i-70 Highway

A massive rock slide hit the Glenwood Canyon area of Colorado at midnight on Sunday. The massive rock slide occurred just west of the Hanging Lake Tunnel. The largest boulders in the rock slide are estimated to be roughly the size of a semi-truck. The biggest rock to fall was a 66-ton boulder that resulted in the interstate (i-70) being closed.

Highway Closed Due To Gaping Holes From Boulders

According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, huge boulders crashed down a mountainside and left gaping holes in the i-70 highway. A 17-mile stretch of the highway has now been closed until the source of the Glenwood Canyon rock slide can be determined. Transportation between Glenwood Canyon and Dotsero has been halted due to the mass damage that has occurred as a result of the rock slide.

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. - A rock slide punched gaping holes in a bridge and left huge boulders on Interstate 70, closing a 17-mile stretch of the highway in western Colorado.

The slide struck around midnight Sunday near Hanging Lake Tunnel in Glenwood Canyon, a deep, narrow chasm about 110 miles west of Denver, the Colorado Department of Transportation said.

Ten Foot Boulders Leave Vehicle Size Holes In Highway

Boulders in the rock slide ranged from 3-10 feet in diameter, and approximately 20 of them rolled down the snowy mountainside and into the interstate 70. Around 8 holes were left in the i-70 with the largest measuring 20 x 10 feet. Boulders rolled off the highway and managed to damage the wesatbound bridge. Amazingly enough, no vehicles got caught in the Glenwood Canyon rock slide and no injuries were reported. The affected area of the i-70 remains closed until further notice.