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Rock Slide has Closed Highway 70 from Glenwood Springs to Eagle; Alternate Route from Aspen to Vail, Grand Junction to Denver; Updates Here

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:26:34 -0500

As of March 8, 2010, Interstate 70 will be closed indefinitely to repair major rock fall damages; here is the alternative route between Aspen and Vail, Glenwood Springs, Grand Junction and Denver

Interstate 70 will be closed for an indefinate period of time so crews can clean up damage caused by a major rock-slide in Glenwood Canyon just East of Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

Here is the alternative routing information between Denver and Grand Junction including visits to Aspen from the East and Vail from the West. If you go this way, please watch for deer, elk and other animals on the road. They can get pretty thick on these one lane mountain highways.

Traveling West from Vail: Exit at Mile Marker 156 to Highway 131 at the Town of Wolcott. Wolcott is located one exit past Edwards, Colorado and is a bit tricky. Get off the highway going North, take a left at the T onto Highway 6; then a right over the Eagle River onto Highway 131. From there travel north over Wolcott Pass past State Bridge, through Oak Creek to Steamboat Springs where the Highway turns into Highway 40 through Craig. Then take Highway 13 South out of Craig through Meeker and Rifle back to I-70.

We have created a route on the Mapquest Map for you to print or view.

Traveling East from Aspen or Glenwood: Go West young man!... and follow the directions backwards from the Rifle exit or grab the detailed directions below the Mapquest Map by clicking on the link above.

Hopefully, CDOT will open Cottonwood Pass later this week. Be warned the route is a "very slippery when wet" snowpacked dirt/mud road. Only those with adequate four wheel drive vehicles should attempt this mountain pass. On my way home there was a flashing road sign installed on Valley Road in Gypsum saying the Cottonwood Pass was closed. I just read on Twitter an hour after getting home that Vail Daily reports that this is not an option.

The Colorado Department of Transportation will work around the clock to get I-70 open; at least one lane in each direction will be the first goal, but, it could be many days. CDOT is the best in the business; under their watch is over two hundred miles of true Rocky Mountain highway including two four lane passes over 12,000 feet. In fact, I'm watching them blast the first boulders in Glenwood Canyon right now on 9News.

Check back here for continual updates as we get them.

Proposed Traffic Jam Reduction Efforts Between Denver and Colorado Ski Towns Welcomed

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:45:44 -0500

A proposal that would establish zipper lanes and right lane only truck retrictions on East Bound I-70 met with excitement from ski town locals

Two bills introduced last week will hopefully start to help motorist with the commute to mountain ski areas in Colorado. This is welcomed by the ski communities as major traffic snarls and road closures have definitely been an issue in the last many years; especially on the passes and in the Clear Creek County area of Highway I-70.

The first piece of legislation is the zipper lanes that would alternate increased traffic flow to three lanes during heavy east or west bound congestion times; that's Friday afternoon and Saturday morning westbound and Sunday afternoon eastbound. CDOT seems to suggest the legislation is not necessary and they have been studying the implementation of this for some time now. That's good; we all hope to see it in action during the 2011/12 ski season. No excuses.

The second piece of legislation involves a law change pertaining to our "good buddies"; the truckers. For the first time, right only to pass (I assume the "only to pass" part because I cannot find any good information on this).

Anyway, this would be historical if we could get a right to pass only. I had asked CDOT at a forum years ago and the main reason is the truck lobbyist want the quickest transportation possible to their drivers and this would ultimately slow the down.

However, with the increased volume in trucking through the Rocky Mountain I-70 corridor and as an eyewitness to the situation, it is time we get the trucks and motorist alike to cooperate and use the right to pass only rule. In addition, out of courtesy to all on the road, truckers need not pass during heavy traffic going UP either of the passes on I-70.

Hopefully, we will see this legislation turned into law.

Activists Gear Up to Protest the 2010 Olympics

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:48:28 -0500

A number of activists protest environmental, housing and other issues raised by the Olympics

Many activists are gearing up to protest the 2010 Winter Olympics coming to Vancouver and nearby Whistler ski resort. A number of issues are being protested by groups that have objections against the Olympic Games in general, on the grounds that environmental destruction, displacement of indigenous peoples, and continued support for the military-industrial complex are all negative outcomes for the Olympics.

Protests have been happening for more than a year, and as the 2010 Winter Olympics approach, it won't just be about snow sports and international competition. There will be protests and activism as well throughout Vancouver, and probably at Whistler ski resort as well.

Ski Resort Newsroom | Ski Resort Markets Search

Rock Slide has Closed Highway 70 from Glenwood Springs to Eagle; Alternate Route from Aspen to Vail, Grand Junction to Denver; Updates Here

See Also

Proposed Traffic Jam Reduction Efforts Between Denver and Colorado Ski Towns Welcomed

See Also

Activists Gear Up to Protest the 2010 Olympics