I-70 fully open through Glenwood Canyon; Glenwood Springs residents asked to cut back to essential water use only | PostIndependent.com
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I-70 fully open through Glenwood Canyon; Glenwood Springs residents asked to cut back to essential water use only

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A muddy Colorado River and an empty Interstate 70 can be seen from Scout Trail, but no signs of the mudslide that closed the interstate. The mudslide is within the Grizzly Creek Fire burn scar. Peter Baumann / Post Independent

UPDATE 10:23 P.M. Saturday, June 26: Interstate 70 is now reopened in both directions.

While Crews with the Colorado Department of Transportation were able to reopen the eastbound lanes earlier Saturday, difficult conditions meant the westbound lanes could not reopen until later.

A mudslide Saturday afternoon led to the hours-long closure. CDOT has reported no injuries or trapped vehicles.

CDOT spokesperson Elise Thatcher said CDOT front-end loaders are having a tough time trying to clear the area of mud and sediment, which is being described as “soupy.”

The debris included small rocks but was largely composed of dirt and mud, Thatcher said. The estimated width of the debris slide is about 70-feet wide in both westbound lanes of I-70, and is approximately five to seven feet deep at the deepest points.

The mudslide, caused by heavy rain falling on the Grizzly Creek Fire burn scar, came after a flash flood warning was issued at 2:30 p.m.

GLENWOOD SPRINGS RESIDENTS ASKED TO CUT BACK TO ESSENTIAL WATER USE ONLY

In an alert early Sunday morning, the City of Glenwood Springs requested residents cut back to essential water use only “due to water supply issues.”

Earlier on Saturday, the city of Glenwood Springs asked residents to suspend outdoor watering as “water crews are evaluating water treatment with current heavy rains.”

This is a developing story; check back later for more updates.

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