Heavy Travel Delays on Westbound I-70

February 14, 2014 - Denver Metro Colorado/CDOT Region 1, Northeastern Colorado/CDOT Region 4 - Motorists traveling on westbound I-70 into the mountains are currently experiencing heavy delays due to a disabled vehicle that blocked the right lane at approximately Dumont for an extended time.

The lane has recently been reopened but travelers can expect delays will continue throughout the day due to high volume traveling to the high country for the holiday weekend as well as snow packed conditions.

Typically for every minute an incident remains on the highway, it takes approximately six minutes to clear the traffic queue following the incident.  CDOT crews and others responded as quickly as possible to these incidents but also remind vehicles to check CDOT Mobile or cotrip.org prior to leaving for the high country to plan their trip.

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

•      Schedule more CDOT snow plow crews to supplement the existing crews in Summit County and Clear Creek County

•      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 considering using 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 at www.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.