Colorado is considering making a year-round detour on Interstate 70 south of Glenwood Canyon in case there are more rockslides in the area.
The Grand Junction Sentinel reports the head of the Colorado Department of Transportation mentioned the detour route on Wednesday. But CDOT Executive Director Shailen Bhatt says that and other long-term approaches could be too expensive and have other possible drawbacks.
A Federal Highway Administration grant is funding research into possible solutions to the problem after a February rock slide closed a stretch of the interstate for nearly a week. Other proposals include building a rock shed to cover part of the highway.
CDOT expects costs associated with the rockslide to be up to $5 million. So far, the agency has received $1 million in federal emergency funding and is seeking more.
Currently, I-70 is open in both directions in Glenwood Canyon, but only one lane is open in each direction. Officials said they are hoping to fully reopen the canyon to two lanes in each direction by May 5.