CUSTER COUNTY, Colo. — Highway 96 between Westcliffe and Wetmore has reopened following a rock slide, according to the Custer County Sheriff's Office.
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A rock slide forced the closure of a Colorado highway in Custer County Sunday night.
Just before 5 p.m., the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) announced the closure of Highway 165 just south of Highway 96. The area is between Wetmore and Westcliffe. At about 5:15 p.m., Highway 96 was also closed in both directions.
At about 6 p.m. the Custer County Sheriff's Office announced that CDOT expects this to be a multi-day closure.
"At this point CDOT anticipates a multi-day highway closure to allow an inspection by a geologist before crews can enter the slide zone and begin cleanup," the Custer County Sheriff's Office posted on social media. "Specialized rockfall mitigation may also be needed. CDOT has requested and will deploy electronic sign message boards to be set up in Silver Cliff, Wetmore, and Rye."
Alternate routes include:
-Canon City to Westcliffe via Oak Creek Grade (CR 255) or
-Canon City to Westcliffe via Copper Gulch (CR 215) or
-Texas Creek to Westcliffe via Highway 69.
ROAD CLOSURES CO 96 and CO 165 - CO 96 is closed from Wetmore to Westcliffe. CO 165 is closed just northwest of Rye to the CO 96 junction. Local traffic allowed through. Crews will assess the slide and ridgeline on Mon to determine stability and clean-up efforts. Seek alt routes. pic.twitter.com/ASMZnLK5Mr
— Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) (@ColoradoDOT) December 30, 2024
Motorists were not able to drive up Highway 165 from Rye through the rock slide area.
For updates on the closures from CDOT click here.
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