I-70 closed in Glenwood Canyon in Colorado after semi-trailer accident

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado – Interstate 70 is completely closed in a section of Glenwood Canyon on Tuesday after an accident.

According to the Colorado State Patrol, a semi-trailer traveling in the westbound lanes overturned and ended up in the eastbound lanes of the highway.

According to CDOT, the interstate is completely closed in both directions between the Grizzly Creek and Hanging Lake exits. A lengthy closure is expected.

The accident occurred at about 9:40 a.m. Tuesday at mile marker 123, a section of the highway where the westbound lanes are higher than the eastbound lanes.

According to a Colorado State Patrol spokeswoman, the semi-trailer fell from the upper deck to the lower deck and is blocking both eastbound lanes.

No other vehicles were involved. The driver was taken to hospital.

Drivers from the Denver metropolitan area heading west should exit I-70 at Exit 205 (Silverthorne) and head north on Colorado 9 toward Kremmling, or exit I-70 at Exit 157 (Wolcott) and head north on Colorado 131 toward Steamboat Springs.

Travelers then continue west on US 40 and then south on Colorado 13 to complete the alternate route and return to westbound I-70 at Rifle (Exit 90).

Drivers heading east from Utah or Grand Junction can reach the Denver metropolitan area by reversing the route described above.