A rock slide triggered by heavy rain forced the closure of US 6 through Clear Creek Canyon in Colorado on Thursday morning, though the road has since reopened with the possibility of additional closures later in the day.
Colorado Department of Transportation officials closed the highway at 6am after a slide deposited rocks and mud across a stretch measuring 175 feet long and 3 feet deep west of Tunnel 3. CDOT crews responded to the scene to clear debris and assess the slide area. Motorists were directed to use Interstate 70 as an alternate route during the closure.
By 1pm, CDOT reopened US 6, but officials warned that additional rainfall expected throughout the day could trigger further slides and prompt another closure.
Travelers planning to use Clear Creek Canyon should monitor weather conditions and check COtrip.org for the latest road condition updates before heading out. The COtrip Planner App is also available as a resource for real-time travel information.
Rock slides are a recurring hazard along US 6 through Clear Creek Canyon, particularly during periods of heavy precipitation. The corridor runs through a steep, narrow canyon in the Colorado Front Range between Golden and Idaho Springs, roughly 15 to 30 miles west of Denver.