Rock scaling begins on U.S. 50 in Fremont County

Some drivers were impatient but most were understanding of traffic delays caused by a rock fall mitigation project that began Wednesday.

The Colorado Department of Transportation said delays on the project in the Lower Bighorn Sheep Canyon along U.S. 50 would last at least 20 minutes.

Several drivers got out of their vehicles and walked around during the delays. One driver took out his rod and reel to do some fly fishing in the nearby Arkansas River.

CDOT has a five-man crew knocking loose rocks from the steep canyon cliffs, to prevent rocks from falling later and threatening the safety of people and vehicles.

Rockfalls are fairly common on the stretch of highway.

The rocks pile up into a roadside ditch and heavy equipment clears the highway to allow traffic to resume.

Workers are on duty weekdays through the end of August, with similar work planned for state highways 115 and 96 in the county.

A CDOT spokesman said rainy weather has not significantly increased the danger from rock falls.