function hide_user_promo_bubble_second_stage() { var bubble = $("user_promo_bubble"); bubble.style.display = "none"; } function hide_user_promo_bubble() { var bubble = $("user_promo_bubble"); var myAnim = new YAHOO.util.Anim(bubble, { opacity: { to: 0 } }, 1, YAHOO.util.Easing.easeOut); myAnim.animate(); setTimeout("hide_user_promo_bubble_second_stage()", 1100); } function handle_promo_username(params) { var bubble = $("user_promo_bubble"); var img = $("user_promo_bubble_image"); var anchor = $("user_promo_bubble_link"); if (params.has_photo == "true") { img.src = "http://images.huffingtonpost.com/profiles/" + params.user_id + "-tiny.png"; } else { img.style.display = "none"; Dom.addClass(anchor, "wide"); } anchor.innerHTML = "Shared by " + params.user_name; anchor.href = "http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/" + params.user_name; bubble.style.display = "block"; var myAnim = new YAHOO.util.Anim(bubble, { opacity: { to: 1 } }, 2, YAHOO.util.Easing.easeOut); myAnim.animate(); } if (HuffPoUtil.getUrlVar("user_promo")) { YAHOO.util.Event.onDOMReady(function() { var parts = document.location.hash.split(","), shared_by = "", badge = "", i; if (parts.length < 2) return; for (i = 0; i < parts.length; i++) { if (parts[i].indexOf("sb=") !== -1) { shared_by = parts[i]; } if (parts[i].indexOf("b=") !== -1) { badge = parts[i]; } } if (shared_by == "" || badge == "") return; var bubble = $("user_promo_bubble"); if (!bubble) return; var entry_id = HuffPoUtil.GetEntryID(); if (!entry_id) return; var user_id = parseInt(shared_by.substr(shared_by.indexOf("sb=") + 3)); if (!user_id) return; var badge_type = badge.substr(badge.indexOf("b=") + 2); if (!badge_type) return; script = document.createElement("script"); script.setAttribute("type", "text/javascript"); bubble.appendChild(script); script.setAttribute("src", "/include/share_track.php?a=view&eid=" + entry_id + "&uid=" + user_id + "&b=" + badge_type + "&cb=handle_promo_username"); }); } I-70 Rock Slide Closes 17-Mile Stretch On I-70

DENVER — A rock slide punched gaping holes in a bridge and left huge boulders on Interstate 70, closing a 17-mile stretch in western Colorado and prompting Gov. Bill Ritter to declare a disaster emergency Monday.

The slide struck around midnight Sunday near Hanging Lake Tunnel in Glenwood Canyon, a deep, narrow chasm about 110 miles west of Denver, the Colorado Department of Transportation said.

No injuries or damage to vehicles were reported. All lanes were closed from Glenwood Springs east to the town of Dotsero. Up to 25,000 vehicles a day travel that section of the major east-west artery, department spokeswoman Stacey Stegman said.

Because of the rugged terrain, the shortest detour adds about 200 miles around the mountainous Flat Tops Wilderness Area. Adding to the traffic mess, U.S. 50 was closed over Monarch Pass due to adverse conditions.

Stegman said the rock slide took out median barriers, steel guardrails and at least one lightpole.

"To me, it looks like a war zone," she said. She said that from an engineering perspective, though, the damage was less than originally thought.

Ritter declared a disaster emergency for the highway, allowing the state to seek funding from the Federal Highway Administration to help pay for repairs.

Transportation officials planned to regroup Tuesday to plan rockfall mitigation for another loose boulder above the highway, Stegman said.

The largest hole in the roadway was 10 by 20 feet in the westbound lane. About 20 boulders ranging from three to 10 feet long were scattered on the highway, with the largest weighing 66 tons, officials said.

Story continues below

Crews were drilling holes in the large boulders to insert explosives and blast them into smaller pieces. She said once the crew clears the debris, they will be able to find out which lanes can be reopened.

Stegman said some lanes could reopen soon, but they don't know how long it would take to finish roadway repairs and reopen all the lanes.

A 1995 rock slide on I-70 in Glenwood Canyon killed three people. A slide on Thanksgiving Day in 2004 closed the highway and required nearly $700,000 worth of repairs. No one was hurt because the highway had previously been closed for an unrelated crash.

Know something we don't? E-mail us at [e-mail]

Comments

[Raul Garcia]

I enjoyed that stretch of I-70, interesting highway engineering. last time I used that route was after the second storm system in December of 2008.

I find the I-40/I-25 a little more enjoyable, driving through Utah at night is like driving through a big black hole.

[RefreshingTaste]

That short section is a huge problem area lots of rock slides happen there on a regular basis, and just ahead is a very sharp corner, within the last year 2 semis rolled on that corner and sent pipes to the East bound lanes below killing drivers, CDOT needs to do something in this area. This site has picture of the rock slide http://www.gjsentinel.com/breaking/articles/large-rockslide-closes-i-70-in-glenwood-canyon/

[gimiesome]

RefreshingTaste

Thanks for the link.

[dildenusa]

Beautiful country and an inspiring feat of engineering to push I-70 up the Colorado River like that. I've been on every inch of I-40, I-70, and I-80 and by far the most inspiring ride is I-70. The most fun I had was driving down the west side of Vail Pass in an 18 wheeler just after a snow storm hauling 40,000 pounds of stuff to Salt Lake City. I did it in 7th gear with the engine screaming.

[F4Phantom]

I salute you and the other truckers who safely navigate these wintery roads and successfully dodge all the 4-wheelers who seem DETERMINED to put either you or them into THE HURT LOCKER. You guys are real pro's.

[Alexander Bradley]

That is some pretty scary driving conditions on a bad day, "watch out for the car size hole in the road."

[general knight]

Very glad nobody hurt. Falling rocks are always a danger out here this time of year. Meanwhile, I'm stuck on the west side of the canyon waiting to get to work on the east side....we never get a 'snow day' so. I guess I'll have to take a 'rock day.'

[colomom]

Leaving for Las Vegas in 2 weeks!! I guess we will have to do I-80 West and maybe Hwy. 50 or I-40 back home? Either way, it's UGLY!! I am actually glad to avoid the canyon, I usually pray the entire way through...hope we don't get a big snowstorm...

[Solsister]

They'll at least have one bridge open by then, most likely (assuming the info in the article is correct, which is a BIG if!).

[anitaj]

Glad no one was hurt!

[stargazer13]

wow !