I-70 fully closed near Glenwood Canyon after semi crash

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. — Interstate 70 is fully closed Tuesday through a portion of Glenwood Canyon following a crash.

A semi-truck traveling in the westbound lanes rolled over and landed in the eastbound lanes of the highway, according to the Colorado State Patrol.

The interstate is closed in both directions between the Grizzly Creek and Hanging Lake exits, CDOT said in an update at 11:45 a.m. An extended closure is expected.

The crash happened around 9:40 a.m. Tuesday at milepost 123 which is an area of the interstate where the westbound lanes are higher than the eastbound lanes.

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

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

Westbound motorists from the Denver metro area should plan on exiting I-70 at Exit 205 (Silverthorne) and traveling north on Colorado 9 toward Kremmling or exiting I-70 at Exit 157 (Wolcott) and traveling north on Colorado 131 toward Steamboat Springs.

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

Motorists traveling eastbound from Utah or Grand Junction can reach the Denver Metro area by traveling the route above in reverse.