A Water Whacked Weekend Mountain Drive

With summer in full swing, many of us take to the highways and head for the mountains.  But this time of year, our weird weather can fill a scenic drive in the Rockies with many different water caused dangers.

Water draining down through an old culvert caused a 4x6 foot sink hole on I-70 on Thursday. It forced CDOT to close two lanes of I-70, west of the Eisenhower Tunnel. As I write this, one lane of westbound I-70 is still blocked along a two mile stretch between mm 203 and 205 (west of Silverthorne.) CDOT has no idea how long repairs will take.

Water from melting snow has swollen most of our mountain rivers and streams. Driver who navigate the canyons this time of year do not share the happy thoughts white water rafters get when the spring melt fills the streams. The bike path near Glenwood Springs has already been flooded out and is closed right now. With warm weather moving back into the state, you can bet Jeffco officials will be keeping a close eye on the streams that race down through the canyons and out of the foothills this weekend.

Water seeping through the cracks of the craggy rock ledges are causing a bunch of mud and rockslides in the mountains, including one that dropped a dump truck sized on the Peak to Peak highway that runs between Nederland and Estes Park. Many mountain roads were cut through the mountains, instead of going over them. That created those towering rock walls...impressive to look at and prime places for a dangerous rockslide this time of year.

It looks like a dry weekend. Do not expect any more rain or snow in the mountains. But, the damage has been done. Watch yourself as you drive up there in the mountains this weekend.

*Keep a sharp eye out for rocks in the road as you zip around the curves. A little rock on the road could mean a bigger boulder is ready to come crashing down on your car.

*Never drive through water that is washing across the road, no matter how shallow it looks.  If you get caught in a flash flood in a mountain canyon, climb! Safety is not in your car. It is above you. So, scramble out the door and get yourself up and out of the way of rising waters.

*Is I-70 still messed up? You can get the latest on all the mountain roads, including that sinkhole on I-70 by clicking here.  Then, under "Travel Information," click on "Road Conditions."