Watch for Bicyclists on I-70 Saturday

June 23, 2011 - Central Eastern Colorado/CDOT Region 1 - CLEAR CREEK COUNTY – The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is advising drivers to be prepared for approximately 1300 bicyclists on Interstate 70, east of the Eisenhower/Johnson Memorial Tunnel (EJMT), on Saturday, June 25.

From 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., the right shoulder of eastbound I-70 will be closed to allow the Bicycle Tour of Colorado (BTC) to travel eastbound I-70 for approximately 17 miles, from the U.S. 6/Loveland Pass* interchange, just east of the EJMT, to Lawson, just east of the U.S. 40/Empire Interchange. CDOT is recommending that all drivers and bicyclists “Share the Road” and use extra caution along this segment of I-70.

The BCT is using I-70 due to another, previously scheduled event that is using the path on Saturday during the same time-frame from the bottom of Loveland Pass to Bakerville and the frontage road east from Bakerville.

“It’s a unique situation this year,” says CDOT Traffic Engineer Bernie Guevara. “Due to safety concerns and possible conflicts between bicyclists and runners participating in the other event, the decision was made to allow bicyclists to travel on the shoulder this one time only, especially since the BCT is taking proper traffic control measures.”

The Colorado State Patrol will be patrolling I-70 while the event taking place, monitoring traffic and making sure the shoulders and lanes are being used correctly while bicyclists and motor vehicles are simultaneously traveling the highway.

*To maintain safety for bicyclist and truckers, vehicles carrying hazardous materials will be restricted from traveling eastbound Loveland Pass from 5:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. Saturday. Hazmats will be convoyed through the tunnel at 6 a.m. and 7 a.m.