Updated - Overnight Closure of I-70 – West of Tunnel

October 26, 2010 - UPDATED TRAFFIC ADVISORY - Central Eastern Colorado/CDOT Region 1 - SUMMIT COUNTY – The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will close Interstate 70 between the Eisenhower/Johnson Memorial Tunnel (EJMT) and Silverthorne tonight to allow maintenance crews to clear snow from the left lane, currently closed to traffic for median barrier construction.

CDOT is conducting the clearing operation to maintain safe road conditions since the buildup of snow and additional melting could create icy conditions across all lanes of the highway.

Beginning at 1 a.m. on Wednesday, October 27, eastbound I-70 will be closed at Silverthorne. All traffic will be stopped at the Silverthorne exit since Loveland Pass remains closed overnight due to adverse conditions and high avalanche potential. Eastbound I-70 is expected to reopen by 3 a.m.

When work is completed on eastbound I-70, all eastbound lanes will reopen and westbound I-70 will be closed at the Loveland Pass interchange, just east of the EJMT. Westbound I-70 will reopen to traffic by 5 a.m. Wednesday.

CDOT needs to close all lanes of I-70 since the center and right lanes will be needed during clearing operations to temporarily store traffic control devices and heavy amounts of snow.

DETOUR: Eastbound I-70 - State Highway 9 south to Fairplay, U.S. 285 north to Denver OR State Highway 9 north to Kremmling, U.S. 40 east to Empire and I-70; Westbound I-70 – routes listed above in reverse.