Loveland Pass reopened to motorists Wednesday afternoon after a landslide closed the section of U.S. Highway 6 three days prior.

The reopening comes after seven tandem dump trucks hauled 92 tons of mud and silt off the roadway and geohazard specialists from the Colorado Department of Transportation greenlit a reopening of the pass to drivers at 1 p.m. Wednesday, according to a news release from CDOT.

“I am incredibly proud of our team’s swift and dedicated work to safely reopen Loveland Pass after the recent landslide,” said Jessica Mykelbust, CDOT Denver Metro transportation director, in the release. “Our crews’ expertise and tireless efforts ensured that we could restore access through this vital mountain corridor as quickly as possible.”

The slide first occurred at about 5:30 a.m. Sunday at mile point 226, between Loveland and Arapahoe Basin Ski Areas, and was caused by material above the roadway becoming saturated with water from melting snow and sliding down below, the release says. Initial reports indicated that the size of the debris was about 100 feet wide and 15-20 feet deep.

The cleanup operations occurred in two phases, according to prior information from CDOT. The first removed the mud and silt from the travel lanes while the second ensured that the roadway remained stable and clean the remainder of the debris.

Loveland Pass remains closed; 85% of debris in travel lanes cleared Tuesday

The blockage caused trucks carrying hazardous materials, who generally use the highway for travel as they are not allowed through the Eisenhower and Johnston Tunnels on Interstate 70 due to safety concerns, to be escorted through them every hour by CDOT officials. 

As of Tuesday, about 85% of the debris had been removed from the cite, CDOT said.

Drivers who are concerned about slides or other events can check the latest road conditions on COtrip.org or the COtrip Planner app.