Heavy Traffic Expected on I-70 Mountain Corridor

February 15, 2014 - MEDIA ADVISORY - Central Eastern Colorado/CDOT Region 1 - Peak Travel Times to Fluctuate Sunday, Allow for Extra Time.

STATEWIDE – Heavy traffic is expected along the I-70 mountain corridor today, Saturday February 15 through the holiday weekend.  Motorists travelling eastbound on I-70 should allow for extra time. Eastbound travelers on Sunday should anticipate longer delays throughout the day. Due to holiday travel and new snow in the ski resorts, the volume of cars is expected to be high this weekend and peak travel times are expected to begin earlier in the day.

Over 40 snowplows are staged along the I-70 corridor and on Vail pass in anticipation of weather rolling in Sunday evening and expected to deposit two to four inches of new snow along the mountain corridor as reported by the National Weather Service.

A multi-car accident at mile post 189 (Vail pass) earlier this morning had both lanes westbound closed for about 20 minutes and after being cleared, only the left lane westbound was closed for a about an hour and a half while vehicles continued to be cleared from the scene.

CDOT continues to develop strategies to address incident response and is implementing plans to prepare this weekend for heavy volume and possible adverse weather conditions.  Among the strategies that CDOT will employ:

  • Expand CDOT’s I-70 West Courtesy Patrol to aid and assist stranded motorists with disabled vehicles
  • Work with stakeholders such as commercial vehicle providers to manage traffic flow on the corridor
  • Promote good winter driving tips including checking tires for good tread prior traveling into the high country and promote increased used of passenger vehicle traction through chains and alternative traction devices

To receive real-time updates about road conditions in your area, visit www.coloradodot.info and click on the green cell phone icon in the upper right hand corner of the page. Information about weekly lane closures will be available at www.coloradodot.info/travel/scheduled-lane-closures.html. Live road conditions are available atwww.cotrip.org, downloading the CDOT Mobile app or by calling 511 from anywhere in the state. Updates are also available via Twitter @coloradodot and be sure to “Like” our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/coloradodot.