Hazmat activity closes southbound I-25 from Tomah Rd. to County Line Rd.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The Colorado Department of Transportation was forced to temporarily close I-25 Wednesday due to a hazmat situation near Larkspur.

At 11:58 a.m., CDOT announced all southbound lanes of I-25 were closed at Exit 174: Tomah Road due to "fire activity." At 12:25 p.m., CDOT announced the lanes were closed from Exit 174: Tomah Rd. to Exit 134: County Line Road.

At that same time, CDOT announced northbound lanes were temporarily closed. However, northbound I-25 reopened five minutes later.

#I25 northbound: Roadway reopened to traffic between Exit 163 - County Line Road and Exit 174 - Tomah Road. https://t.co/GF8OFAjOMV

— Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) (@ColoradoDOT) April 27, 2022

According to the Colorado State Patrol, a damaged density gauge that fell off of a vehicle caused the closure. CSP says the gauge contained radioactive material that came out of the device.

Crews needed a 300-foot radius around the device. CSP Says the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment responded to the scene.

At 12:42 p.m., CDOT announced the southbound lanes were closed beginning at Exit 181 to Exit 173. That section of the road reopened at 2:32 p.m.

#I25 southbound: Roadway reopened to traffic between Exit 181 - Plum Creek Parkway and Exit 174 - Tomah Road. https://t.co/M3eup2u2yB

— Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) (@ColoradoDOT) April 27, 2022