Westbound Interstate 70 is closed Tuesday morning near Vail after a tractor-trailer crashed, blocking both lanes of the highway, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
The tractor-trailer, which was carrying heavy axles, overturned on westbound I-70 near the west end of Dowd Junction, the Vail Police Department said around 9:11 a.m. Tuesday.
CDOT officials said the westbound highway was closed for crash cleanup and investigation between U.S. 6 and Exit 169 for Eagle, about a mile east of Avon.
“Cleaning up will take a significant amount of time and a crane or other heavy machinery will be needed to reload the axles onto a new truck,” Vail police officials said.
A photo released by CDOT officials shows the overturned truck spread across both lanes of traffic and the shoulder of the highway.
Traffic is being diverted to U.S. 6 at Minturn, but it is slow and a fallback to Vail is expected, police said. Drivers should avoid traveling west of Vail if possible and prepare for delays in the area.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
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