Series of I-25 Crashes Led to Closure Sunday

Subhead

GREENHORN VALLEY

Image
  • The northbound lanes of I-25 between Abbey Road and Burnt Mill Road were a series of one accident after another Sunday afternoon. Courtesy Photo
    The northbound lanes of I-25 between Abbey Road and Burnt Mill Road were a series of one accident after another Sunday afternoon. Courtesy Photo
Body

I-25 was closed for several hours Sunday afternoon, October 29 as the area’s first major snowfall turned the Interstate slushy and slick.

Road conditions varied greatly in the normally short trip from Pueblo to Rye, ranging from areas that were just wet, areas of deep slush, and on to downright slick. Sliding vehicles, crashes in the road, cars off the road, and a semi laid over across northbound lanes resulted in miles of backed up traffic and traffic diversions.

The area between Burnt Mill Road, exit 88 and Abbey Road, exit 77 was hard hit with crashes, especially on the northbound lanes. Some of the backed-up traffic was diverted onto the northbound frontage road at Brantzel exit, with semi traffic being routed back South due to a low underpass on the northbound frontage road. Traffic was diverted onto the northbound frontage roads at Abbey Road to avoid further miles of backup.

Colorado State Patrol, Pueblo County Sherrif ’s Department, Colorado Department of Transportation, and Rye Fire Protection District worked together guiding traffic and clearing accidents.

The interstate was reopened in a surprisingly short amount of time, approximately two to three hours, considering the number of accidents in the area.