Multiple viewers reached out to Denver7 with concerns about a large pothole that appeared Friday morning on the eastbound I-70 bridge at the Morrison and Golden exit. We took their questions to the state's department of transportation.
Denver7 first learned about this when a viewer reached out to us, describing the huge, new pothole on I-70 at that exit and the damage it was causing.
"Cars were lined up on the shoulder with flat tires all the way down I-70 and on the C470 exit ramp. Check it out!" she told us.
So, we did.
Looking at city camera shots, Denver7 saw seven cars on the shoulder at 8:52 a.m., but the pothole itself was not in the frame.
A Denver7 photographer headed to the scene to get a better look.
There, we saw multiple cars loaded onto tow trucks.
They had at least one, if not more, flat tires each.
We asked Tamara Rollison with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) about the pothole, and were initially told that "maintenance crews are repairing the pothole."
Rollison later added that the large pothole had formed within about 20 to 30 minutes starting around 7:30 a.m. Friday morning. She explained it is likely due to the recent heavy rain, paired with construction in the area.
"CDOT crews immediately responded with lane closures, and contractor crews will work through the afternoon to make sustainable repairs to the pothole," she said.
The construction is part of the I-70 Resurfacing from Chief Hosa to Colfax project, which involves milling the asphalt down to the concrete surface. As of early this morning when the contractor wrapped up the shift, crews did not see any damage to the bridge deck, Rollison said.
The two right-most lanes of eastbound I-70 at the Morrison Road exit will stay closed until the repairs are complete. Drivers will be detoured to US Highway 40. Crews will repair the damage to the middle lane with the hope to reopen it soon, but this will likely take most of the afternoon, Rollison told us around 12:30 p.m.
After this report, we heard from some viewers who said dangerous potholes started forming in that same area long before the recent rainstorms.
"Ask anyone who drives this route daily, it is very dangerous due to the road construction, potholes, and cracks that pull you when driving," one person wrote to Denver7. "This road is poorly maintained and the state needs to be held responsible."
Denver7 requested a CDOT interview about the pothole and its impacts, which was denied.
To report a pothole on a Colorado interstate or highway for CDOT to check out, call the appropriate office below (note that CDOT does not repair city/local roads):
- Denver Metro/Central Colorado (Region 1): 303-759-2368
- Southeastern Colorado (Region 2): 719-562-5568
- Northwestern Colorado (Region 3): 970-243-2368
- Northeastern Colorado (Region 4): 970-350-2368
- Southwestern Colorado (Region 5): 970-385-1423
Do you drive this stretch of I-70 often and want your perspective heard? Email us at newstips@denver7.com.
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