Summit County, Colorado – Interstate 70 has been shut down from Frisco to Vail Pass after an avalanche ruptured a Gasline near the Copper Mountain, Colorado.
An avalanche near the Conoco station in Copper Mountain has ruptured a natural-gas pipeline. Interstate 70 now is closed between Frisco and Vail. Colorado 91 is closed between Leadville and Copper Mountain. Crews are on scene. Stay tuned for more information.
— Summit Fire & EMS (@Summit_Fire) March 7, 2019
The incident occurred on Thursday at around 5 pm when a natural-gas pipeline between the Conoco gas station and the water treatment plant in Copper Mountain was ruptured by an avalanche causing the Interstate 70 to close.
The Colorado State Patrol is on the scene and has said that it will take some time to clear up the highway.
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has tweeted that, “Why we can’t provide an ETO (estimated time of opening): Until the avalanche mission is conducted we won’t have a good idea of how much snow needs to be cleared.”
Why we can’t provide you an ETO at this time…until the Avalanche mission is conducted we won’t have a good idea of how much snow needs to be cleared. As soon as we hear from our team in the field we will update all of our channels. Stay tuned.
— CDOT (@ColoradoDOT) March 7, 2019
CDOT has dispatched a crew with snow clearing equipment and they will be clearing the highway. However, there is no estimate when the highway will be cleared.
#VailPass avalanche at MP 186. @ColoradoDOT has crews on scene with heavy snow equipment enroute. One tow truck was caught in the avalanche. Tow driver is okay! #COTraffic #CoWx pic.twitter.com/mfrTYTU4si
— CSP Eagle (@CSP_Eagle) March 7, 2019
#BREAKING ROAD CLOSURE: #VailPass is now closed WB at Copper Mountain (Exit 195) due to large natural avalanche at MP 186. All westbound lanes are covered. This will take @ColoradoDOT crews several hours to clear. #COTraffic pic.twitter.com/T1OGCOb291
— CSP Eagle (@CSP_Eagle) March 7, 2019
Authorities have advised motorists not to travel through Interstate 70 until it has been reopened.