Sinkhole work closes westbound I-70

RULISON, Colo. ” The westbound lanes of Interstate 70 near Rulison were closed Thursday afternoon and may remain closed until mid-next week as crews continue work on a sinkhole that forced the closure of the eastbound lanes last week.

Traffic will be detoured onto U.S. 6 between West Rifle (exit 87) and Rulison (exit 81) during the closure, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. The westbound lanes may open for the weekend, depending on what crews discover as they drill in search of voids beneath the interstate. Those voids will be filled if necessary.

Crews first discovered a depression in the eastbound lanes on April 29; beneath was a sinkhole that was about 6 feet in diameter and 8 inches deep. It was apparently caused by a gas pipeline installed beneath the interstate, according to CDOT. Gas company Williams Production is using high-pressure grouting equipment to fill any voids that are found surrounding the pipeline, which lies 20 feet beneath the roadway.