RSSI-70 hindrance may be dislodged in a few hours
The Colorado Department of Transportation says that if all goes well, it expects to bring down a pesky boulder in Glenwood Canyon early this afternoon, possibly leading to the opening of Interstate 70 to limited traffic.
The agency is trying to dislodge the 20-foot-diameter rock from the same area where some 20 rocks fell from the canyon side onto I-70 early Monday morning. That rockfall punched holes through the highway, which is partly elevated above ground, and forced its closure.
Transportation officials say the boulder they’re trying to bring down now would otherwise pose a danger of falling on motorists later.
A helicopter is on scene this morning, and ready to drop off drilling equipment and a generator for planned drilling and blasting operations to bring down the boulder.
Once it is down, any remaining loose rocks are removed from the hillside, and any further highway damage from the rock work is assessed, transportation officials expect to be able to provide estimated times for reopening the highway to single-lane traffic.
The closure has resulted in many motorists taking a 200-mile detour via U.S. 40 through Steamboat Springs.
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