I-70 Mountain Corridor Weekend Travel
Those traveling the corridor throughout the weekend should expect to encounter adverse winter weather and should anticipate travel times to increase due to the conditions. All motorists are encouraged to prepare their vehicles accordingly for winter driving conditions.
Eastbound traffic on Saturday and Sunday should also anticipate slow traffic due to heavy volumes and winter weather. Historic data shows the likelihood for high traffic volumes and delays returning to the Front Range. If traffic or conditions dictate, CDOT will implement Safety metering and/or escorts led by plows and state troopers eastbound along I-70 to ensure public safety inside the tunnel during high volume times or poor weather times. Travelers are encouraged to “Change Their Peak” and travel outside of the busiest hours of 1 pm and 7 pm if possible. Motorists should be advised that when heavy delays due to weather occur, peak times extend later into the evening and drivers should prepare to add extra time to their travels.
CDOT would like to remind motorists that adverse weather and winter driving conditions could occur at any time along this mountain corridor. Motorists should be prepared for the possibility of long delays, as well as changing road conditions. CDOT advises that adequate tires or tire chains are required equipment for mountain travel, as is stocking your vehicle with essentials like water, blankets, windshield washer fluid, hand warmers and non-perishable food items. Preparing vehicles prior to a trip and driving according to conditions is essential to winter travel to both maintain safety and reduce delays
In order to ensure public safety in the Eisenhower Tunnel, CDOT may implement metering prior to the tunnel. Metering is used sparingly in this area to ensure that emergency personnel can access the tunnel during an incident. Should weather conditions require it, CDOT will implement vehicle escorts further down the mountain at Silverthorne to ensure that eastbound traffic can move steadily up the hill without having to stop and encounter possible traction issues. This type of traffic control is designed to keep traffic rolling, resulting in fewer delays on a heavily congested weekend in inclement weather.
The Colorado Department of Transportation cannot allow backups in or around the Eisenhower Tunnel for the safety of the traveling public. With increased traffic numbers, particularly during weekend peak travel times, CDOT is implementing innovative methods of traffic control to ensure continuous traffic flow in this area. If vehicles are escorting traffic up the mountain, motorists should anticipate stops in Silverthorne or Frisco where they will wait for an escort up the mountain by Colorado State Patrol.
CDOT may implement metering to help increase public safety in the Eisenhower Tunnel. Metering is used sparingly in this area to ensure that emergency personnel can access the tunnel in the event of a fire or incident. Should weather conditions require it, CDOT may also implement wave escorts further down the mountain at Silverthorne allowing eastbound traffic to move steadily up the hill without having to stop and encounter possible traction issues. Wave escorts are designed to keep traffic rolling, resulting in fewer delays on a heavily congested weekend in inclement weather. When implemented, motorists should anticipate stops in Silverthorne or Frisco where they will wait for an escort up the mountain by Colorado State Patrol following CDOT plows.
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 atwww.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.
