After a massive rock slide in Colorado that led to a highway being closed, the state has elected to move the road rather than the boulder.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis announced his administration has opted not to destroy the 8.5m lb boulder.

Rather than blowing up the massive rock, the boulder will be designated a landmark - called Memorial Rock.

Making the boulder, which lies along Highway 145, a tourist attraction will save taxpayers about $200,000, as opposed to the cost of demolition.

The government will shift a portion of the highway around the rock, as reported by the Denver Post.

Another boulder which fell during the rock slide was exploded. That boulder weighed roughly 2.3m lbs.

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Total cost of highway repairs will cost approximately $1.3m which will be supplemented with federal emergency funds.

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