VIDEO: Caltrans Blows Up Cabin-Sized Boulder That Was Blocking Highway 50 Near Echo Summit
ECHO SUMMIT (CBS13) — Highway 50 at Echo Summit is back open after nearly a day of being blocked by a cabin-sized boulder that fell onto the road.
The big rock fell onto the highway Thursday evening.
Caltrans crews were on scene through the night and into Friday morning, doing extensive work to get the roadway back open.
Due to the boulder's size, Caltrans decided to rig it with explosives and break it up.
Even as snow started to fall early in the morning, crews were drilling into the boulder to get it ready to be detonated.
The explosion happened a little after 10 a.m. and broke the large boulder into many smaller - but much more manageable - pieces, just as planned.
Caltrans announced a little before 3 p.m. Friday that Highway 50 was fully back open in both directions.
According to the California Highway Patrol Placerville, eastbound 50 traffic was being held at Sly Park Road. Westbound traffic was being held at State Route 89 in Meyers.
Caltrans advised using Interstate 80 or State Routes 49, 88 and 89 as alternate routes.
