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Cottonwood Pass
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For years, the 12-mile-long stretch of I-70 has been prone to rockfalls and vehicle crashes that tend to close the highway for long periods of time throughout the year, but most often in the winter when Cottonwood Pass is closed.
Then came the Grizzly Creek Fire in August 2020, followed by the massive mud and debris flows after heavy rains pounded the burn scar last summer.
Both events resulted in weeks-long closures of I-70 through the canyon, and now every time the National Weather Service issues a flash flood warning for the area, the highway closes again.
How to mitigate slides in canyon?
Whether it is the use of chutes or other preventative measures, it would seem that it is time for CDOT to make a determination of what other measures should be taken to harden the canyon from further slides and resultant closures because there are no other practical alternate routes for commercial trucking. Karen Moculeski
Last year, when the canyon shut down for two weeks, the National Guard was mobilized to help thousands of tourists inch their way over the pass, which navigation apps recommended as an alternative route to shave hours off the official detour. The cat was out of the bag. This is no reason to let it have kittens.
Published: August 10, 2022
Midvalley fire crews knock down brush fire in Missouri Heights Monday afternoon
A brush fire that broke out along Garfield County Road 100 northeast of Carbondale Monday afternoon was quickly contained before it could spread into a thick stand of trees nearby, Carbondale and Rural Fire Protection District officials said.
Published: August 8, 2022
An unofficial I-70 detour around Glenwood Canyon could see improvements — but not too many
Local government leaders and state transportation officials are now attempting to walk a delicate line: They are beginning to plan a series of improvements meant to make the road safer for those who truly need it while avoiding attracting gobs of new traffic that would interrupt life in this once-quiet part of the state.
Published: July 28, 2022
While not opposed to some basic safety improvements, like softening some of the curves and widening some of the narrow spots, White and most of his neighbors would just as soon keep the series of county roads leading over Cottonwood Pass as a rural route, for local traffic only.
Published: July 26, 2022
Cottonwood Pass conceptual plans to be unveiled
Two public meetings are slated this week, one in Glenwood Springs and another in Gypsum, to introduce conceptual plans for improving Cottonwood Pass as an alternative east-west route for local passenger-vehicle traffic during Interstate 70 closures through Glenwood Canyon.
Published: July 18, 2022
Eagle County seeks public input for safety improvements on Cottonwood Pass
Public meetings are planned to introduce a new project aimed at improving safety on county roads that traverse Cottonwood Pass between Gypsum in Eagle County and Colorado Highway 82 in Garfield County.
Published: July 18, 2022
Eagle County seeks public input for safety improvements on Cottonwood Pass
Public meetings are planned to introduce a new project aimed at improving safety on county roads that traverse Cottonwood Pass between Gypsum in Eagle County and Colorado Highway 82 in Garfield County.
Published: July 15, 2022
Open house meetings next week to review Cottonwood Pass concept designs
Two public meetings are slated next week, one in Glenwood Springs and another in Gypsum, to introduce conceptual plans for improving Cottonwood Pass as an alternative east-west route for local passenger-vehicle traffic during Interstate 70 closures through Glenwood Canyon.
Published: July 14, 2022
I-70 traffic predicted to worsen as state’s population grows
As traffic projections outline a potentially bleak travel experience for future motorists along Interstate 70, the Glenwood Springs City Council voted Thursday to re-join a coalition dedicated to improving the mountain thoroughfare. Founded in 2004,...
Published: June 20, 2022
Rep. Lauren Boebert lends support to Glenwood Springs’ South Bridge Project
U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., has requested that Glenwood Springs’ South Bridge Project be awarded a federal Rural Surface Transportation grant to help complete the long-envisioned southern connection to Colorado Highway 82.
Published: June 16, 2022
Federal goals at odds with state and local priorities for rural, unpaved Cottonwood Pass, which swells with traffic when I-70 closes through Glenwood Canyon
Published: May 10, 2022
Cottonwood Pass opening Wednesday - Eagle County officials urge caution on dangerous dirt road
Cottonwood Pass between Gypsum and the Roaring Fork Valley — the dangerous Glenwood Canyon detour — will open for the season on Wednesday and is set to remain open through the fall, conditions permitting.
Published: May 3, 2022
A Missouri Heights neighborhood group that successfully fought a summer camp proposal last year wants to be heard sooner rather than later as state and county officials begin planning improvements to Cottonwood Pass.
Published: May 3, 2022
CDOT talks Cottonwood Pass, prepares motorists for more I-70 closures
The Colorado Department of Transportation this week addressed efforts to create a detour around Glenwood Canyon via Cottonwood Pass in Eagle County.
Published: April 29, 2022
Garfield commissioners want Cottonwood Pass to stay in county hands, even as I-70 detour
Cottonwood Pass between Garfield and Eagle counties should remain under county control if it becomes a detour during Interstate 70 closures in Glenwood Canyon, Garfield County Commissioner Tom Jankovsky said.
April 5, 2022
There’s no ideal way up to or down off of Cottonwood Pass on the west side, but Garfield County officials will at least attempt to better distribute local traffic and take some of the load off of Cattle Creek whenever I-70 is closed through Glenwood Canyon.
Published: August 16, 2021
GARFIELD, EAGLE COUNTIES MULL COTTONWOOD PASS OPTIONS PRESS RELEASE August 10, 2021
Commissioners from Garfield and Eagle countries met with Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) officials on Tuesday to discuss the Interstate 70 closure in Glenwood Canyon, and potential improvements to Cottonwood Pass Road, a mostly undeveloped route that connects the town of Gypsum to Highway 82 between Glenwood Springs and Carbondale.
