Part of U.S. 24 still open; traffic between Red Cliff and Leadville detoured

By The Associated Press
Wednesday, July 11, 2012

LEADVILLE – The Colorado Department of Transportation says part of U.S. 24 is still open after a sinkhole 100 feet deep and 20 feet across opened beside the road, apparently caused by the collapse of an abandoned railroad tunnel far below.

The department said Wednesday people who want to visit Camp Hale south of Red Cliff can still get there. The camp was established in 1942 to provide winter and mountain warfare training during World War II.

Traffic between Leadville and Red Cliff, 25 miles to the north, must take a detour about 60 miles long.

CDOT spokeswoman Ashley Mohr says the railroad tunnel collapsed decades ago but much of the soil above it remained frozen until recently.

She says CDOT engineers, geology experts and maintenance crews are working on repairs.