The Colorado Department of Transportation has closed Colorado Highway 165 and Colorado Highway 96 due to a rockslide in the area of McKenzie Junction in Custer County. CO 96 is closed, as of December 29, from Wetmore to Westcliffe. Closure points are located at the junction of CO 96/CO 67 in Wetmore at Mile Point 26.2 to Westcliffe at MP .01. Meanwhile, CO 165 is closed just northwest of Rye at MP 28. Local traffic will be allowed through closure points to access properties on either side of the rockslide area.

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Rocks are actively falling and the area is unsafe to begin any mitigation. Geo-technical crews will assess the mountain side and ridgeline above CO 96 Monday to determine the stability of the mountainside for clean-up.

Traffic Impacts

Motorists will encounter the closure of CO 165 MP 28 and the closure of CO 96 between Wetmore and Westcliffe. Local traffic can access properties on either side of rockslide. Alternate routes are described below.

Western CO 96 Route:

• North on CO 67 to US Highway 50
• West on US 50 to CO 69
• South on CO 69 to Westcliffe

Eastern CO 96 Route:

• North on CO 69 to US 50
• East on US 50 to CO 67
• South on CO 67 to Wetmore

CO 165 Route:

• South on CO 165 to Interstate 25
• North on I-25 to CO 96
• West on CO 96 to Wetmore