JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. — All eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 at Denver West have reopened after a crash that resulted in damage to the overpass Thursday morning.
Tamara Rollison, Denver metro communications manager with the Colorado Department of Transportation, said it appeared that a commercial vehicle struck the bridge while traveling in the eastbound lanes of I-70. It was likely an oversized truck, she said, but the truck was gone by the time crews responded.
A CDOT crew investigated the structural integrity of the bridge on Thursday morning. Crews found minor damage to one of the girders supporting the bridge but found the structure was safe.
The right lane of the southbound bridge deck will stay closed "for an extended period of time," CDOT said at 11:30 a.m. Thursday. Repairs will be made in the coming weeks, according to CDOT.
Jenny Fulton with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said the Denver West Marriott Boulevard bridge over I-70 seems to have damage as a result of the crash. Some debris had dropped into the eastbound lanes.
Crews were using a snow plow to move the debris off the road.
Eastbound lanes were all closed at Colfax until 7:24 a.m., when two lanes reopened. The final lane reopened around 10:45 a.m., according to a Denver7 crew at the scene.
To get around the crash, use 6th Avenue to Simms, Kipling or Wadsworth up to 32nd Avenue, which can get you back to I-70. Or use 6th Avenue to I-25 and then head back to I-70.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
