11 Vehicles Trapped in Highway 82 Mudslides Near Glenwood Springs, CO

A series of mudslides triggered by heavy rain on Saturday night have closed Highway 82 near Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) aims to clear the debris and reopen the highway by noon today, Monday, August 12. The mudslides occurred five miles south of Glenwood Springs, near Thunder River, and trapped 11 vehicles, though no injuries were reported. CDOT and the Colorado State Patrol safely evacuated the drivers.

The mudslides resulted from over an inch of rain in the Spring Valley area, creating 23 slide paths and four significant slides that spread debris three to four feet deep across a three-quarter-mile stretch of the highway. CDOT reported more than 40 tons of material had spilled into the eastbound lanes. Crews have been working since early Sunday morning to clear the road, using heavy machinery to remove the debris and cut trenches for water drainage.

As of Sunday afternoon, over 50 truckloads of debris had been removed, with efforts continuing through the night. CDOT opened the eastbound lanes by 5 a.m. today, while westbound traffic remains diverted via County Road 154. Commuters are advised to allow extra travel time this morning.

The National Weather Service had issued a flood watch for Glenwood Springs until Sunday night, and CDOT continues to monitor weather conditions closely. Despite the challenges, CDOT has found no infrastructure failures, attributing the mudslides to natural events.