Repair work begins on I-70 in Glenwood Canyon

The Colorado Department of Transportation has awarded Colorado-based contractor Lawrence Construction, the I-70 Glenwood Canyon Emergency Project.

Motorists traveling on Interstate 70 in the Canyon should anticipate delays, as well as intermittent daytime and nighttime closures, because of repair work.

This current phase of the emergency project is estimated at $6.1 million.

The canyon was impacted by several major materials slides, including mudslides on July 29 and 31. The debris did considerable damage to the interstate at Mile Point 123.5, known as Blue Gulch.

“We are encouraged to get this project kicked off and have a contractor that mobilized so quickly and is using a plethora of local help,” CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew said. “We understand how impactful the closures of the canyon are on the local economy. Gov. (Jared) Polis has been clear that he wants everything completed before Thanksgiving, and we are optimistic we will have the interstate back open to four lanes at this location by the end of November.”

Crews have been setting up permanent traffic control barriers at Blue Gulch, where a majority of the repair work will start. The Blue Gulch section of roadway is down to one lane in each direction because of temporary and long-term repairs.

At mile point 123.5, crews are excavating mudslide material surrounding the 7foot-by-7-foot concrete box culvert that runs beneath the interstate from Blue Gulch to the river.

The contractor team is working to determine the extent of the damage and repairs that will be needed.

Additionally crews are excavating and hauling debris from mile point 123.5 to begin the first phase of roadway and retaining wall reconstruction.