More Traffic Expected for New Year's

“We wish all Coloradoans a happy and safe New Year holiday and prosperous 2012,” said CDOT Executive Director Don Hunt.  “We’re doing what we can to minimize traffic impacts since we know there’s going to be a lot of people out traveling the state’s highways this weekend.”

To reduce potential delays, all CDOT construction projects will be suspended statewide by late Friday afternoon.  Projects can resume their regular schedules on Monday night, January 2 or Tuesday, January 3.  The only exception is for emergency operations.

In addition, there will be extra DUI enforcement throughout the New Year’s weekend, so plan ahead for a sober designated driver. Already, more than 1,300 drivers have been arrested for DUI in Colorado since the holiday season began. Please remember that your best defense against a drunk driver is your seat belt, so be sure to please buckle up.

According to the AAA Colorado, automobile travel is at its highest volume during the year-end holidays.  Higher traffic areas in Colorado include Interstate 25 along the Front Range, where travel is expected to be heavier than normal throughout the day and evening on Friday and Saturday.

Heavier than normal traffic also is expected on Interstate 70, west of Denver.  Westbound traffic is expected to be heavier than normal today through Saturday.  Heavier than normal traffic should be anticipated on eastbound I-70 on New Year’s Day and Monday, January 2, especially between Summit County and the Denver area.

The traffic count at the Eisenhower/Johnson during 2010/2011 New Year’s weekend was:

Colorado highway information 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 subscription items.