Rockfall Mitigation

Rock Scaling

As a result of two rockslides that occurred the week of Nov. 25 just east of Dumont near Mile Point 236, rockfall mitigation work will be done in two locations in December. This work and the related traffic impacts include:

Rock scaling and blasting work near Mile Point 236 (east of Dumont)

CDOT is scheduled to conduct a rock blast in this area on Wednesday, Dec. 18. I-70 will be closed in both directions from 9 a.m. to noon for blasting and cleanup efforts. The Frontage Road (Stanley Road) will also be closed for a short period of time during the blast itself.

I-70 through travelers should plan their trips for earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon on Wednesday, Dec. 18, or plan to take an alternate route to avoid this three-hour closure. Westbound through traffic will be diverted at Floyd Hill (Mile Point 248) and eastbound through traffic at Dumont/Downieville (Mile Point 234). Local traffic will be maintained on either side of the four-mile-long closure of I-70, so anyone headed to Idaho Springs from Denver will still be able to make it that far.

This blasting work is weather-dependent and schedules could change. Resources for information updates include:

Rock scaling work near Mile Point 239 (west Idaho Springs)

Rock scaling work began Wednesday, Dec. 4, and continues each Monday through Thursday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. No scaling work will be done during the holidays.

This work involves pushing loose rocks off the mountain slope above the highway. Vehicles will be stopped for about 20 minutes while this scaling work is done and the roadway cleaned up. The queue of stopped vehicles will then be released before traffic is again stopped and the process of stopping and releasing traffic is repeated.

Drivers in both directions of I-70 should plan for delays.

Click here to watch the video of emergency rock scaling work done Friday, Nov. 29, east of Dumont.