Rock blasting on I-70 near Evergreen will cause delays for motorists over the next two weeks
EVERGREEN, Co. – There will be traffic delays and disruptions on Interstate 70 near the Evergreen exit for the next two weeks due to rock blasting.
This is all part of the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) plan for a new Pegasus Bustang stop in Evergreen. The shuttle route takes riders from Denver to various ski resorts, including Idaho Springs, Frisco, and Vail. The new stop is for riders who don’t want to drive to Denver to take the Pegasus.
“This just provides another way to get on Pegasus. Pegasus is great, especially in the winter when you’re driving up to ski,” said Stacia Sellers, CDOT communications director. “Our number one goal is to get vehicles off the road. We want to keep I-70 moving.”
Colin Riley, Denver7
So how do you turn the side of a rocky hill into a flat parking lot with room for 40 spaces and a bus stop? With explosives buried 25 feet underground.
CDOT said underground rock blasting is the safest and easiest way to move the heavy earth at the site. Over the next two weeks, workers have scheduled three blasts to remove thousands of cubic feet of rock at the Evergreen exit along westbound I-70.
Colin Riley, Denver7
Rock blasting will take place during the weeks of August 12-19 and is expected to be completed around August 23. According to CDOT, blasting will only be done once per day and no more than twice per week.
If you are traveling on I-70 or US-40, you will be held up in traffic until the blast area is clear. Drivers should expect a wait of 20 minutes. If you are the last car in line, delays of up to 45 minutes may occur.
“We really want to make sure that at the end of the day everyone is safe,” Sellers said.
Colin Riley, Denver7
Starting Monday, eastbound motorists will be stopped east of County Road 65 (exit 248), while westbound motorists will be stopped at the Genesee Wildlife Crossing (between exits 254 and 256). Traffic on US-40 will be held up north and south of I-70. Motorists in this area will be warned by a series of horns.
CDOT said there will be no detours. Drivers are asked to stay on the road and wait until the closure is lifted.
“We encourage people to just stay the course. So stay on I-70 or stay on US-40 and traffic will increase,” Sellers said.
Drivers can subscribe to text alerts about traffic conditions by texting “floydhill” to 21000. They can also call CDOT’s hotline at 720-994-2368.
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