GOLDEN, Colo.—A busy stretch of U.S. 6 west of Denver will be closed until engineers can determine whether firefighting operations inadvertently increase the danger of rock slides.
Officials said Thursday that helicopter water drops may have loosened rocks and soil along the road through Clear Creek Canyon.
Engineers will evaluate the danger once firefighters wind down operations at a wildfire that crept partway down the canyon’s north wall.
It’s not clear when that will be. Firefighters hope to contain the fire by the weekend.
U.S. 6 connects Denver with the casino towns of Blackhawk and Central City. About 13,500 vehicles a day use that section of the highway. Those towns can also be reached by other, longer routes.
The highway has been closed because of fire truck traffic.
