GOLDEN, Colo. — The westbound lanes of Interstate 70 at C-470 in Golden are back open after a semi crashed into a bridge, causing a closure that last more than five hours Friday.
The crash happened shortly before 11 a.m. Friday near mile marker 260 . There were no injuries, according to Colorado State Patrol troopers in Golden.
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) sent a bridge inspection team to evaluate if there was any structural damage from the 80K load getting wedged under the bridge.
“Just occurred,” they wrote. “Expect delays and possibly a full closure,” the post read.
I-70 Crash Westbound at Colorado 470
— CSP Golden (@csp_golden) December 8, 2023
Semi vs Bridge MP 260
Just Occurred Expect Delays and Possibly a Full Closure
S1 pic.twitter.com/mnD4P1XRMa
All westbound traffic was being re-routed onto eastbound C-470, troopers later wrote. The best alternative route is Highway 58 to US 6 to US 40 through Golden, CSP Golden recommended.
The oversized load was removed from the road shortly before 2:30 p.m. and CDOT has their bridge team evaluating the structure for "traffic worthiness," CSP Golden said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
"CDOT inspectors assessed the structure and found damage to the outside edge of the bridge," a CDOT spokesperson said in a news release late Friday afternoon. "CDOT determined westbound I-70 under the bridge could be safely reopened until permanent repairs are made."
The road reopened at 4:20 p.m. Friday.
State transportation officials said there would be a lane closure on the westbound C-470 bridge over I-70 to keep the weight of vehicles off the damaged area until repairs are made. The ramp from eastbound I-70 onto C-470 will remain closed.
