Colorado
Video shows terrifying rockslide in Colorado that forced highway closures
Rockslide slams into intersection of two Colorado highways
A rockslide occurred above an intersection of two highways. Colorado’s Department of Transportation closed portions of the roads.
A major rockslide prompted two highways to be shut down in Colorado over the weekend and witnesses captured the frightening moment on video.
Highways 96 and 165 from Wetmore to Westcliffe in Colorado’s Custer County were closed for the public Sunday evening after actively falling rocks made the roads unsafe for traffic, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) said in a travel advisory Sunday, adding the “area is unsafe to begin any mitigation.”
As of Thursday, CO-165 has been opened for all traffic, while parts of CO-96 remain “closed for rockslide clean up, according to COtrip.org. No injuries were reported from the incident, CDOT spokesperson Amber Shipley told USA TODAY Thursday.
Video footage of the rockslide shows the rocks tumbling down along with parts of mountain onto the road in a cloud of dust. The video was recorded by Sierra Wright, who told Storyful she made the video after she and friend pulled over on the side of the road.
Watch the terrifying rockslide.
Following the rockslide, CDOT closed parts of two highways while crews assessed the slide and ridgeline “to determine stability and clean-up efforts.” The agency advised travelers to seek alternate routes.
Shipley said the landslide may have been triggered by “significant snowfall” in the area recently.
“Water and snowmelt seeps into the soil and rock (and) combined with the natural freeze/thaw cycle causes increased pressure in existing underground cracks and voids which can weaken the slope – which is what commonly happens on hillsides/mountains along Colorado roadways,” Shipley told USA TODAY over email.
Jay Temple, a geologist with the Colorado Geological Survey, in a recorded briefing according to Colorado Public Radio, said the incident occurred “on a major fault zone.”
CDOT advises drivers to check latest road conditions on COtrip.org or on the COtrip Planner app before making any trips.
This story was updated to add more information.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
Authorities have issued an evacuation warning for homes near a wildfire that broke out in southwest Boulder on Saturday afternoon.
Just before 1 p.m., Boulder Fire Rescue said a wildfire sparked in the southwest part of Boulder’s Chautauqua neighborhood. The Bluebell Fire is currently estimated to be approximately five acres in size, and more than 50 firefighters are working to bring it under control. Mountain View Fire Rescue is assisting Boulder firefighters with the operation.
Around 1:30, emergency officials issued an evacuation warning to the residents in the area of Chatauqua Cottages. Residents in the area should be prepared in case they need to evacuate suddenly.
Officials have ordered the DFPC Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA) and Type 1 helicopter to assist in firefighting efforts. Boulder Fire Rescue said the fire has a moderate rate of spread and no containment update is available at this time.
Red Flag warnings remain in place for much of the Front Range as windy and dry conditions persist.
A two-alarm fire damaged a hotel in Estes Park on Friday night. It happened at Expedition Lodge Estes Park just north of Lake Estes.
The lodge, located at 1701 North Lake Avenue on the east side of the Colorado mountain town, was evacuated after 8:30 p.m. and the fire chief said by 10 p.m. the fire was under control.
One person was hurt and taken to a hospital.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. So far it’s not clear how much damage it caused.
A total of 25 firefighters fought the blaze.
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