Closures near Genesee to allow construction on a wildlife underpass

Drivers can expect to see road closures on Interstate 70 and U.S. 40 near Genesee during the first few weeks of February as Colorado Department of Transportation workers install a new wildlife underpass and some grates and fencing to help guide the wildlife to the underpass, the department announced Thursday.

Closures will be in place on the roadways while the department is working on the project.

From 7 a.m. Monday to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, CDOT will close U.S. 40 in both directions between Genesee and Lookout Mountain. Drivers accessing U.S. 40 eastbound can detour around the closure using eastbound I-70 to Lookout Mountain. Drivers accessing U.S. 40 westbound will not be able to reach the interchanges at Genesee and Mount Vernon Road.

From 7 a.m. Feb. 12 to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 15, CDOT will close the Genesee on-ramp to westbound I-70. Drivers accessing I-70 westbound can detour around the closure by traveling east on U.S. 40 or I-70 to Lookout Mountain and using the on-ramp to access the interstate.

The project is on schedule to be completed by spring 2024, CDOT said.

— Michael Braithwaite, The Denver Post

Person trapped in garbage truck compactor rescued

Aurora firefighters rescued a person trapped in a garbage truck compactor early Friday morning.

“The truck driver had just started his route and made a few stops already when he heard a person moaning from the back of his truck and called 911,” Aurora Fire Rescue spokesperson Shannon Hardi said.

Firefighters safely extracted the person from the back of the garbage truck but still have no idea how they got back there in the first place, Hardi said.

Hardi said the person’s injuries were not life-threatening. Details about the victim’s gender and age were not available.

— Lauren Penington, The Denver Post

Concrete truck overturns; driver seriously injured

A concrete mixer truck overturned east of Parker on Friday, seriously injuring and trapping the driver, according to South Metro Fire Rescue.

First responders spent nearly two hours stabilizing the vehicle and extricating the driver, the agency posted on X. The crash was reported near 11327 Cottontail Lane in Douglas County at 11:37 a.m. The driver was extracted and taken to a hospital with serious injuries, according to South Metro Fire Rescue.

— Katie Langford, The Denver Post