YOUR AD HERE »

Vail Pass reopens in both directions after avalanche

3 semis caught in slide but no injuries reported

Three semis were caught in the slide but no injuries are reported.
CDOT

VAIL — Interstate 70 at Vail Pass has reopened in both directions as of 3:30 p.m. Tuesday following an avalanche early this morning.

The closure began at 3:20 a.m. Tuesday. Three semis were caught in the slide but no injuries are reported. A photo from the Colorado State Patrol shows a semi truck with its cab partially buried.

VIDEO: Tuesday’s snow conditions on Vail Mountain.

The slide occurred in the area known as The Narrows, four miles west of the summit.

Crews were reporting 4 feet on snow on the roadway in some areas with as much as 15 feet of snow on the road in other areas. The slide primarily covered the westbound lanes but made it into the eastbound lanes as well, CDOT spokeswoman Tracy Trulove said.

READ MORE: Vail Police chief: What I-70 closures mean for Vail community.

Prior to the avalanche, Vail Pass was closed on and off in both directions starting at 5:30 p.m. Monday as a winter storm pounded the area.

READ MORE: Another 6-12 inches of snow expected for Vail Mountain on Wednesday.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center has issued a “high” rating for avalanche danger in the Vail/Summit region Tuesday.

The Vail Mountain snow stake at Blue Sky Basin showed 13 inches of new snow as of 5 a.m. Tuesday.

I-70 between Gypsum and Dotsero was closed for much of the day Monday after a tanker truck carrying 9,000 gallons of diesel fuel rolled over.


Support Local Journalism