Major rockslide cleared from Colorado highway

ROUTT COUNTY, Colo. (KKTV) - After hours of work, road crews successfully cleared a massive boulder and smaller debris from a highway Wednesday.

The rockslide was reported mid-morning on U.S. Highway 40, west of Steamboat Springs, not only shutting down the highway, but causing CDOT to delay cleanup on I-70 in Glenwood Canyon from a separate incident, due to the rockslide occurring along part of the I-70 detour route.

Work to clear the rockslide included blasting the boulder into smaller pieces that could then be hauled out by front-end loaders, CDOT said.

“CDOT maintenance crews are responding to remove smaller rocks and debris. Specialized teams have been mobilized to help remove the larger rock and confirm the integrity of the nearby rock face,” CDOT said during the early cleanup stages.

About eight hours after the rockslide was first reported, the highway was deemed safe for travel.

“CDOT’s Geotech team has inspected the rockface wall and determined that the roadway is safe,” CDOT said.

With the highway passable again, CDOT says the eastbound I-70 closure will now go into effect Thursday morning beginning at 11.