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Glenwood Canyon opens early

Colorado Department of Transportation

The I-70 Glenwood Canyon will be open today due to early completion of rock fall mitigation work.

The work required helicopter access to the freeway, which halted traffic in both directions one day last month, as well as yesterday. Today, I-70 was scheduled to be closed but conditions allowed for the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to get the work done faster than estimated.

The helicopters were used to install 12 steel posts and deliver additional fencing to contain the rocks. The work was necessitated by massive rock slides earlier this spring.

Drivers can still expect delays, as crews will now need to install the fencing. Westbound traffic will be down to one lane at mile marker 125.

Traffic was diverted through Independence Pass on Highway 82 yesterday due to the closure. At about 8:30 a.m., a semi that was over the legal length limit shorted a tight turn and went partially off the road. The truck pulling the trailer got stuck, blocking the right westbound lane, and was there without a tow for nearly five hours.

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