The fiery crash that closed Interstate 70 near Grand Junction on Wednesday means detours for motorists.
Only one lane of eastbound traffic on the interstate is open, but the Colorado Department of Transportation hopes to have one westbound lane open today, said agency spokeswoman Stacey Stegman. Other eastbound lanes may be able to reopen as well.
Early Wednesday, a semi ran off the right side of westbound I-70 at the Road 26.5 bridge. The truck tore out 75 feet of guardrail before the passenger side of the sleeper cab hit and snapped a north-side pillar of the bridge, which goes over I-70.
Two people in the truck died; they have not been identified. Rescuers said the bodies were so badly charred that they were not able to determine genders.
The truck was carrying 55-gallon drums of sodium hypochlorite, a powder containing 10 percent bleach that is used for coating wheel rims.
Mike Page, spokesman for the Grand Junction Fire Department, said residents of the area were in no danger of contaminants, either on the ground or airborne.
Traffic is being diverted onto the I-70 business loop through Grand Junction and along U.S. 6 and U.S. 50. The loop detour takes travelers into downtown, where a number of main streets are torn up and closed for the installation of new roundabouts and the building of a major byway.
Drivers of heavy trucks are advised to take Interstate 80 through Wyoming.
On Wednesday night, CDOT crews were to work with contractors to fortify the pillar that was hit and the remaining pillar with steel.
Staff writers Nancy Lofholm and Demetria Gallegos contributed to this report.
Staff writer Mike McPhee can be reached
at 303-954-1409 or mmcphee@denverpost.com.
