CDOT reopened Highway 96 between County Road 358 and 389 in Custer County Tuesday afternoon.
Crews cleared debris and repaired portions of the road that were damaged during flash flooding Sunday afternoon. CDOT crews also triggered rock slides along the road in an effort to prevent future slides.
CO 96, between Wetmore and Westcliffe, now open following rockfall mitigation. Crews worked throughout the day to bring down rocks in a controlled environment. Work will continue throughout the week on CO 96 and CO 165. Watch for flaggers and reduced speeds in the area. pic.twitter.com/pHpeOOA5Ae
— CDOT (@ColoradoDOT) July 17, 2018
On Sunday afternoon, the Sheriff’s office reported multiple cars were washed off the road as well as mudslides following heavy rains in the area. That caused the highway to be closed for two days between Wetmore and Westcliffe.
No injuries were reported from the floods.
Hardscrabble Creek crossing under Fremont County Road 106 went from being a quiet creekbed to a roaring river in a matter of minutes. The wall of water moving through Wetmore Sunday night was estimated to be 20 feet wide.
Officials said the stream was so powerful due to the north and south flows of Hardscrabble Creek merging together. The Junkins Fire burn scar from two years ago also caused the water to flood easily and quickly in the area.
Multiple residents were seen fishing out debris from nearby irrigation ditches to help waters from overflowing and reaching nearby homes.
Here’s a look at some of the damage and debris left behind from last nights flash flooding in Wetmore. @KOAA pic.twitter.com/dXzTlzj9ij
— Shayla Girardin (@shaylagthatsme) July 16, 2018
This man is clearing out debris to prevent water from overflowing near Wetmore because of the flood happening right now. @KOAA pic.twitter.com/hEaHtRP1v0
— Carl Winder KOAA (@CWinderKOAA) July 16, 2018
