© 2026 Aspen Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

I-70 reopens in both directions after mudslide Monday night

Heavy rains caused flooding and mud slides on I-70 and Highway 6 on July 20, 2026.
Marilyn Gleason
Heavy rains caused flooding on I-70 and Highway 6 on July 20, 2026.

Update 6:45 p.m. 7/22/26

Crews reopened I-70 on Wednesday evening in both directions, according to Garfield County's dispatch center. One lane is currently open in each direction.

Update 7:20 a.m. 7/22/26

Interstate 70 eastbound is open as of Wednesday morning, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.

Westbound lanes remain closed at this time.

Update 2:22 p.m. 7/21/26

I-70 remains closed as Colorado Department of Transportation crews clear an estimated 300-yard section of the interstate of mud and debris, which is three feet thick in some areas.

CDOT did not provide an estimate for when the road might be cleared.

Update 7:15 a.m. 7/21/26

Highway 6 reopened last night after 11 p.m. Crews closed the road earlier Monday evening due to flooding.

Original Story

Interstate 70 is closed in both directions between New Castle and Silt.

Mud covers I-70 in a screen capture from a video posted by the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office.
Courtesy Garfield County Sheriff’s Office
Mud covers I-70 in a screen capture from a video posted by the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office.

The Colorado Department of Transportation said on its transportation map COTrip that the closure is due to mudslides.

Heavy rain caused flash flooding and mudslides throughout the lower Roaring Fork Valley and Colorado River Valley Monday evening. Residents from Basalt to Silt posted photos and videos to local Facebook groups of cars moving through standing water and mud on I-70, Highway 6 and Highway 82.

Highway 6 was closed for a few hours Monday evening, according to state and county officials, but was reopened around 11:30 p.m.

Garfield County officials urged drivers in an emergency alert to be cautious and not drive through flooded sections of road.

This is a developing news story and may be updated with additional information as it becomes available.

Corrected: July 21, 2026 at 12:59 PM MDT
The photo with this article has an updated caption to correct photo credit.