U.S. 6 has been reopened in Clear Creek Canyon between Colo. 93 and Colo. 119 after a semi overturned on Friday afternoon leading to a more than five-hour closure of the highway in both directions, according to state officials.

Colorado Deparmtnet of Transportation spokeswoman Tamara Rollison told The Denver Post that the long stretch of mountain highway was officially open to traffic again just after 6:15 p.m. Friday.

The portion of U.S. 6 that had been closed runs west from Golden and is a connection to Colorado’s gambling towns of Black Hawk and Central City.

The Colorado State Patrol received the first report of the semi rollover just before 1 p.m., according to Trooper Sherri Mendez. No other vehicles were involved in the wreck. The driver was transported to a hospital. Mendez did not have information about that person’s condition on Friday afternoon.

The Colorado Department of Transportation first announced the closure on social media at 1:27 p.m.

Traffic on the east end of the closure was diverted onto Colo. 93. On the west end, drivers were routed onto Colo. 119,  Rollison said.

That closure had impacts elsewhere on the highway system, particularly on Interstate 70 at the beginning of what promises to be a busy holiday weekend.

The Golden Fire Department and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office responded to the accident the scene, Rollison said.

Originally Published: August 30, 2024 at 2:46 p.m.