I-70 Twin Tunnels Weekly Traffic Advisory

March 7, 2013 - TRAFFIC ADVISORY - Central Eastern Colorado/CDOT Region 1 - IDAHO SPRINGS – Traffic stops and day and night lane closures will be in place next week in the Twin Tunnels area of Interstate 70 at the east end of Idaho Springs for rock scaling and concrete wall construction, weather permitting.

Preparatory blasting also continues about every three days.  Blast days and times will not be available until the day prior to, or the day of, the blasting operation and will be provided by calling the project hotline at (303) 327-4034 or by checking one of the sources listed below.

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will implement the following lane closures; traffic slowing should be expected during daylight hours:

  • Monday, March 11
    • 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. – right lane closed eastbound
    • 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – eastbound only: traffic stops of 20 minutes once an hour for rock scaling operations
    • 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Tuesday – all lanes closed eastbound; eastbound and westbound traffic reduced to a single lane through the westbound tunnel
  • Tuesday, March 12
    • 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. – right lane closed eastbound
    • 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – eastbound only: traffic stops of 20 minutes once an hour for rock scaling operations
    • 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Wednesday – all lanes closed eastbound; eastbound and westbound traffic reduced to a single lane through the westbound tunnel
  • Wednesday, March 13
    • 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – eastbound only: traffic stops of 20 minutes once an hour for rock scaling operations
    • 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Thursday – all lanes closed eastbound; eastbound and westbound traffic reduced to a single lane through the westbound tunnel
  • Thursday, March 14
    • 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – eastbound only: traffic stops of 20 minutes once an hour for rock scaling operations
    • 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday – all lanes closed eastbound; eastbound and westbound traffic reduced to a single lane through the westbound tunnel
  • Friday, March 15
    • 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – eastbound only: traffic stops of 20 minutes once an hour for rock scaling operations
    • 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday – all lanes closed eastbound; eastbound and westbound traffic reduced to a single lane through the westbound tunnel

The speed limit is reduced to 35 mph while the traffic lanes are reduced.

PLEASE NOTE: Work on the ramp from eastbound I-70 to Hidden Valley (Central City Parkway- Exit 243) is complete and now is open to traffic.

Adding a third lane to eastbound I-70 from east Idaho Springs to the bottom of Floyd Hill is part of CDOT’s strategy at reducing congestion along one of the state’s busiest corridors which, in turn, will improve gas mileage and air quality.

To receive project updates via e-mail, 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 items you can subscribe to, includingI-70 West, Denver to Glenwood Springs. Updates also are available via Twitter @coloradodot and on CDOT’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/coloradodot.

CDOT also has launched a new smartphone application to provide drivers with easier access to I-70 traveler information. It includes travel speeds and times, road conditions, incidents, road work; and feeds from CDOT's closed-circuit television cameras and alerts. Text CDOT to 25827 or download CDOT Mobile from your App store.