UPDATE: I-70 in the Glenwood Canyon is now open. For more information on the Glenwood Canyon Road Status click here.
Severe weather over the last few days has caused traffic chaos in the Glenwood Canyon on Interstate 70 (I-70) as mudslides and landslides cause the highway to be closed for the foreseeable future. During an interview, Gov. Jared Polis said that “We’re looking at a few days to weeks, and more likely getting into the weeks’ category.”
There’s no quick fix to the problem, with work estimated at several weeks if not longer, as the highway closure causes traffic and logistical nightmares across the state. “We know this closure has had a big impact on Coloradans who use this corridor on a regular basis to travel the state,” Polis said. “We are doing everything in our power to reopen it as soon as possible.”
Alternative Routes to Avoid the Glenwood Canyon Mudslide Closures
Luckily, there are several alternative routes available for drivers, but none of them are going to be quicker than the Glenwood Canyon Interstate 70 route. Most of the routes will add 2-3 hours of driving time to any trip, so drivers need to account for that when planning any trips.
Northern Detour Route
Motorists have been advised to take the northern alternate route from I-70 westbound at Silverthorne via Colorado Highway 9 to U.S. 40 through Steamboat Springs and Craig, and Colorado 13 south to Rifle and back onto I-70 and vice versa for eastbound traffic. Colorado State Patrol Col. Matthew Packard said that his agency had already diverted additional troopers onto some of the workaround routes, including Independence Pass on the south side of I-70 and the northern route through Steamboat Springs to help traffic flow.
Southern Detour Route
The southern detour for canyon closures — along the U.S. 50 through Gunnison — was blocked this summer by an intensive construction project, but the CDOT has currently suspended all construction to allow the U.S. 50 to fully open for the next few weeks, at least for southern traffic.
Motorists are asked to not use smartphone navigation apps to look for alternate routes. Cottonwood Pass is restricted to local traffic only.
More Info on Glenwood Road Closure Routes
Before you consider detouring onto any of the alternate routes which are available, motorists should refer to www.cotrip.org for the latest road conditions. The last thing that anyone wants is to be blocked while attempting to detour around the current road closures.
Towing & Recovery with Mountain Recovery
To help drivers as they travel alternative routes, Mountain Recovery is now offering towing services to the alternative routes, including Highway 40, 50, and 80. We will also tow semis and large tows along major highways across the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and include services between Denver, Fort Collins, Pueblo, and Grand Junction.
If you need any vehicle towing or recovery services, please don’t hesitate to call us at 970-476-1124 24/7, 365 days a year! Mountain Recovery is proud to service the following areas: Vail, Avon, Minturn, Vail Pass, Eagle, Gypsum, Eagle-Vail, Copper Mountain, Frisco, Silverthorne, and Dillon Breckenridge, Eisenhower Tunnel, Bakerville, Silver Plume, Georgetown, and Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Eagle, Summit, and Clear Creek County.
