Press Release- April 24, 2007
OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2007
Contact:
Evan Dreyer, 720.350.8370
STRANDED BUSES RESCUED FROM HIGHWAY 94
Colorado National Guard troops and local emergency crews have safely rescued four stranded school buses from tonight's storm along Highway 94 in eastern El Paso County. The buses were stranded around 3:30 p.m. today.
Sixty-two children, from elementary through high school, are all safely sheltered in private homes in the area, where they are expected to remain until morning. Another 115 people are in shelters in El Paso County.
El Paso County sheriff¿s officials, El Paso Search and Rescue teams and Colorado National Guard troops estimate another 30 vehicles are still stranded near the town of Yoder. But many of those motorists are beginning to resume travel on their own as extreme weather conditions moderate.
There are no known injuries from the storm.
Here are the current highway closures from the Colorado Department of Transportation:
Closures
The ramp from northbound I-25 to westbound US 6 is closed for pipe cleaning due to flooding (no estimated time for reopening)
US 285 is closed in both directions between the Morrison exit and Conifer due to a rock in the road (crews have completed the blasting and are now cleaning up. The estimated time for reopening is 10 p.m. tonight.)
US 40 Berthoud Pass is closed and will remain closed overnight
US 6 Loveland Pass is closed and will remain closed overnight
US 24 is closed from Colorado Springs to Limon is closed due to low visibility (opening dependent upon weather conditions)
State Highway 86 is closed from Franktown to Limon (opening dependent upon weather conditions)
State Highway 83 is closed from Franktown to Colorado Springs (opening dependent upon weather conditions)
State Highway 94 is closed from Colorado Springs to Punkin Center (opening dependent upon weather conditions)
Now open
Southbound I-25 from Lincoln to Colorado Springs
I-70 east of the Eisenhower Tunnel in both directions