Westbound Interstate 70 has reopened near Georgetown after being closed in both directors for hours Tuesday because a semi truck crashed into a bridge support column.
The Colorado Department of Transportation said at 3:30 p.m. that it may be another two hours before a single lane of eastbound traffic is open.
I70 crash: WB to reopen shortly, no eta for EB. Please do not rubberneck/take picture when passing. Pay attention for crews actively working. pic.twitter.com/ZZ16ktpFfD
— Colorado State Patrol (@CSP_News) December 12, 2017
According to the Colorado State Patrol, the semi’s driver was headed west on I-70 around 10:30 a.m. when the vehicle crossed the median into the eastbound lanes and hit the pillar of an overpass.
You can now see the path the semi took going from the WB side of 70 into the EB lanes and then into the bridge. pic.twitter.com/nS5dlYAHkQ
— Jayson Luber (@Denver7Traffic) December 12, 2017
Troopers said one person was killed and another suffered serious injuries.
No other vehicles were involved.
CDOT shut down eastbound I-70 in Silverthorne as a precaution, detouring Front Range bound traffic south on Colorado 9 to U.S. 285. The state patrol was forcing eastbound commercial vehicles to leave the highway at Dotsero in Eagle County because of the closure.
I'm not sure how ir if the semis will be able to turn around and get moving again. They might let them get past using the left lane but keep the highway closed to all other traffic. pic.twitter.com/RTT5TmEfZy
— Jayson Luber (@Denver7Traffic) December 12, 2017
CDOT did not have an estimate for when the highway would reopen but warned of major delays and advised travelers to give themselves extra time to navigate the detours.
Folks driving on the I-70 Mtn Corridor near Empire Junction are encouraged to plan their trip ahead of time. A bridge was hit at mile marker 232 (Empire) and police are conducting investigations which will result in a MAJOR closure. Detours are in place.
— Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) (@ColoradoDOT) December 12, 2017
