Garfield County – Torrential rains this evening have wreaked havoc in the Glenwood Springs area, causing mudslides that shut down portions of Interstate 70 and flooded homes and roads with mud, witnesses and state transportation officials said.
Several roads were made impassable by streaming, knee-deep mud, witnesses said.
No injuries have been reported.
Eastbound and portions of westbound I-70 between Glenwood Springs and Newcastle were shut down about 6 p.m., when mud and water flooded the roadway, said Paul Peterson, a spokesman for the Colorado Department of Transportation. Westbound lanes have re-opened but eastbound remains closed while crews work to clear it.
Newcastle-area resident Brent Robinson said he saw a stream of mud flow down Canyon Creek Road and flooded some homes and yards.
“There was enough mud to certainly break into a house and flood it, but not enough to lift it off its foundation and carry it into the creek or anything,” said Robinson, 24.
“Emergency vehicles couldn’t get past some of the mud and there was at least one car that I saw stuck in it. It was an amazing site, seeing it come down.”
Staff writer Manny Gonzales can be reached at (303) 954-1537 or mgonzales@denverpost.com
