The Colorado Department of Transportation advises drivers on Interstate 70 to expect “significant delays” Wednesday between Rifle and Glenwood Springs as crews pull a FedEx semitrailer from the Colorado River.
Delays could extend into Thursday.
“We are alerting drivers to significant delays expected tomorrow (Jan. 27) for eastbound I-70 traffic between Rifle and Glenwood Springs due to a vehicle recovery,” CDOT spokeswoman Elise Thatcher said in a news release Tuesday. “Motorists must plan for major impacts, expected to begin at 9 a.m. and lasting until dark.”
“Overwidth” vehicles will be required to use an alternate route, Thatcher said, and drivers might face a closure of eastbound lanes as crews remove the two trailers from the river.
Updates will be posted to COtrip.org and CDOT’s Twitter page.
TRAVEL ALERT: Motorists must plan for delays and POSSIBLE CLOSURE tomorrow (1/27) for eastbound I-70 between Rifle & Glenwood Springs due to a vehicle recovery. Major impacts will be 9 am into the evening. Overwidth traffic MUST use an alternate route. #I70 #Colorado #CDOT pic.twitter.com/87IYZeHeZK
— CDOT (@ColoradoDOT) January 26, 2021
“We are anticipating recovery work may need to resume on Thursday in order to complete the job,” Thatcher said, which would delay eastbound traffic going into Glenwood Springs.
Crews will attempt to remove the FedEx tractor and two trailers, which crashed Sunday just west of Glenwood Springs. Crews plan to use a crane placed on the right side of eastbound I-70, allowing traffic to pass on the left side of eastbound I-70.
However, is safe passing is not possible, CDOT plans to fully close eastbound traffic at mile marker 109 and turn traffic back.