A landslide shut down Berthoud Pass for part of the day Mondayprobably the result of rapid snowmelt and abundant moisture.
The slide happened about 6:30 a.m. on Berthoud Pass and initially shut down U.S. 40 in both directions, according to state Department of Transportation officials.
Rocks, dirt, trees, water and boulders — including one the size of a pickup truck and weighing about 16 tons — were swept onto the highway about 7 miles east of Winter Park.
A CDOT geologist inspected the mountain Monday above the slide area to evaluate the stability of the slope and to determine whether mitigation work should be done.
The highway was gradually reopened, a lane or two at a time, as the cleanup continued. All lanes were cleared about 6:30 p.m., 12 hours after the slide.
Kieran Nicholson, The Denver Post
