Summer Traffic Season Underway

May 25, 2012 - Central Eastern Colorado/CDOT Region 1 - DENVER – The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is reminding drivers to anticipate heavy traffic in many areas of the state over the Memorial Day weekend due to the number of events taking place throughout the state to kick off the summer season.

To reduce potential delays, all CDOT construction projects will be suspended statewide by late Friday afternoon. Projects can resume their regular schedules on Tuesday, May 29. The only exception is for emergency operations.

Heavier than normal traffic is expected today and tomorrow on Interstate 70, west of Denver. Westbound traffic will be heavier than normal today and Saturday. Heavier than normal traffic should be anticipated along eastbound I-70 on Memorial Day, May 28, especially between Summit County and the Denver area.

Last year’s traffic count at the Eisenhower/Johnson Memorial Tunnels was:

	Westbound	Eastbound	Total
Friday, May 27, 2011	20,717	13,702	34,419
Saturday, May 28, 2011	16,569	12,049	28,618
Sunday, May 29, 2011	12,392	15,002	27,394
Monday, May 31,2011	11,992	18,083	30,075
Total	61,670	58,836	120,506

“Tunnel traffic doesn’t tend to break any records over the Memorial Day weekend,” notes Eisenhower Tunnel Superintendent Mike Salamon. “There may be a little more traffic this year since it’s been a mild winter and spring, with the snow leaving us a bit earlier than normal. But the tourist season is just getting started, it’s not real hot on the Front Range yet and some schools are still in session. However, traffic will take a significant upward jump through June and heading into July.”

Seasonal roads have opened for the season, including State Highway 82 over Independence Pass between Twin Lakes and Aspen; State Highway 5 – the Mount Evans Highway (State Highway 5); and Trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mountain National Park. All of these highways remain open through the summer – weather permitting.

Information regarding the opening and closing of seasonal highways in Colorado is available at all times on the cotrip.org website or by calling 511. Updates also are offered via e-mail. Please visit www.coloradodot.info and click on the cell-phone icon in the upper right-hand corner. The link takes you to a list of items you can subscribe to, including General Travel Information – Seasonal Mountain Pass Closures/Openings.