Excerpt from: Visitor's Guide to the Colorado Rockies
|
 |
| March 10, 2010 | | Helicopter on Scene. | UPDATE: 10:40 AM, MARCH 10, 2010
The helicopter is on scene—ready to drop off drilling equipment and a generator for planned drilling/blasting operations. If all goes well, crews anticipate bringing the boulder down early afternoon. When the boulder is down, the hillside scaled and stabilized, and any resulting highway damage is assessed, we can begin to send information regarding estimated highway re-open times. We will send notice as soon as the boulder is down.
UPDATE: 10 PM, MARCH 9, 2010
A team of six hiked up 900 feet on the mountainside today and conducted rock scaling operations (removing loose rock material with pry bars and other equipment) until approximately 5:30 p.m. They were able to safely access the unstable rock needing to be brought down. Losing daylight, crews attempted to pry sections loose and locate areas in which to effectively place and then charge explosives, but were unable to do so. Tomorrow, March 10th, crews will hike up to the location once again and drilling and other equipment will be airlifted by helicopter to the site. Drilling and blasting as well as other mitigation efforts will be used to bring down the rock. Due the challenging nature of the project, it is difficult to estimate when the mitigation work will be complete and when I-70 may reopen. Should the rock be brought down successfully, causing minimum damage to the highway, crews could then begin repairs to the eastbound lanes in preparation of opening one lane in each direction using the eastbound lanes. Please note that the process to reopen the Interstate is dependent upon the completion of the mitigation work. An update will be sent mid-morning on March 10th.
Please check http://www.coloradodot.info/news/media-room.html
for updates. | | | |
|
|
