MANITOU SPRINGS, COLO. -- Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) crews were busy blasting away rocks above westbound Highway 24 Wednesday, saying it was a safety measure.

"If [the rocks] were to come down at night, and you couldn't see it," Ty Ortiz, a rock falls specialist with CDOT, said, "you're going to run into it. Worst case scenario, something could fall and actually hit you while you're driving."

Ortiz said the large slab of rock located along the westbound lanes of the highway just west of Manitou Springs, was cracking and at risk of falling onto the highway.

To reduce the risk of a rock fall, CDOT crews used dynamite to bring down the hazardous rock formation.

"I think it went just they way we wanted," Ortiz said.

From about 11 a.m. to noon officials closed Highway 24 starting near Cave of the Winds for the blasting. The eastbound lanes were reopened after the brief explosion, with one lane for each direction. At least one westbound lane was expected to reopen by 3:30 p.m.

CDOT crews spent the afternoon cleaning debris from the highway and will continue to monitor the area over the next couple of days.

Beginning Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., westbound Highway 24 will be closed again. Just west of Cave of the Winds road, the eastbound lanes will be reduced to one lane in each direction. CDOT said to expect 15 to 30 minute delays in the area. Closures will also take place Friday.