TRAFFIC ALERT: Crack In Road Leads To Emergency Repairs, Closure Of EB Lanes US 36
WESTMINSTER, Colo. (CBS4) - A crack that formed in the road caused a big traffic backup of the Boulder Turnpike in Westminster on Friday. The damaged area on Highway 36 at Church Ranch Boulevard closed all eastbound lanes at 9 p.m. Friday.
At first, only the shoulder of the eastbound lane was open to traffic. Even that was closed at 9 p.m. The left express lane was opened to traffic but traffic patterns are expected to change throughout the weekend as repairs are made.
The two eastbound lanes plus the express toll lane were all closed on Friday after the crack was discovered. It caused a lot of drivers extra time on the road.
"It took about 45 min to get home just from Flatiron to Wadsworth," said Sam Cohen.
For much of the day, engineers and contractors with CDOT spent time assessing the damage, which extended beyond the traffic lanes onto the sidewalk.
The roadwork is expected to continue into the weekend and possibly into next week.
CBS4 viewer Robbie Herman said that it took him more than one hour to get from Boulder to Denver West.
Big delays on eastbound U.S. 36 are expected for Friday's rush hour and continuing through next week.
CDOT posted this statement to its Facebook page: We do not know the cause. We have crews and engineers on scene evaluating. We will be cutting a section of concrete to see what's going on with the ground underneath. While we do that, there will be a full closure of EB side with detour. After that work is done we will work to maintain one lane of traffic.
This will be extended work lasting through the weekend and possibly longer FULL CLOSURE of EB US 36 at Church Ranch Blvd. expected to begin between 9 pm and 10 pm as crews remove a section of concrete. This emergency work is being done to evaluate the ground under the pavement to determine cause of cracks developing in the road. Detours will be in place during closure. After the concrete section is removed, which will take a few hours, one lane will open to traffic. Emergency work will continue through the weekend and possibly longer. Motorists should expect lengthy delays and take alternate routes.