UPDATED: Westbound I-70 through Glenwood Canyon reopens after 11-hour closure for gasoline spill
Vail Daily
Colorado Department of Transportation/Courtesy photo
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 9:58 p.m. on Jan. 17.
GLENWOOD CANYON — A hazmat spill caused by four commercial vehicles colliding with one another on Interstate 70 near Dotsero on Tuesday morning closed the westbound lanes of the interstate for early 11 hours.
One of the vehicles in the crash was a semi-truck tanker hauling gasoline. The stretch of interstate reopened just after 6:30 p.m. Tuesday after being closed since 7:40 a.m.
Colorado State Patrol Public Information Officer Gary Cutler reported no injuries. The cause of the collision has yet to be determined as of press time.
The tanker hauling the hazardous material spilled 3,000 gallons of gasoline onto the interstate. The closure was extended all day so crews could drain the 7,000 gallons of gasoline remaining in the tank.
Colorado Department of Transportation spokesperson Elise Thatcher told the Post Independent on Tuesday that potential hazmat impacts to the surrounding landscape, including the Colorado River, are still being assessed.
“CDOT will be assisting with hazmat clean up where necessary,” she said.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Rachael Gonzales said the CPW has not seen any fish kill so far after the spill.
“We also didn’t see any sheen of the gasoline in (the Colorado River), so if any did go in there, we don’t know how much,” she said. “But we will keep an eye out if people start to call.”
Westbound motorists were forced to detour onto Colorado Highway 131 in Wolcott, to US Highway 40 in Steamboat Springs, or to Colorado Highway 13 in Craig, adding hours to their trips.
Thatcher also advised motorists to be prepared for snowy and icy conditions on the alternative routes, Thatcher said.
This story is from VailDaily.com.
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A commercial vehicle crash is seen westbound on Interstate 70 near Dotsero on Jan. 17, 2023.
Colorado Department of Transportation/Courtesy photo
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A commercial vehicle crash is seen westbound on Interstate 70 near Dotsero on Jan. 17, 2023.
Colorado Department of Transportation/Courtesy photo
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A commercial vehicle crash is seen westbound on Interstate 70 near Dotsero on Jan. 17, 2023.
Colorado Department of Transportation/Courtesy image
This story is from VailDaily.com.
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