I-70 Traffic Stops Complete – Lane Closures resume near Vail Tomorrow

July 22, 2019 - Northwestern Colorado

EAGLE COUNTY – The Colorado Department of Transportation will close the right lane of westbound I-70 through Dowd Canyon from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (July 23 – 25) to clean the ditch along the right shoulder to restore its effectiveness as a rockfall catch area.  Delays should be anticipated throughout the day. 

Dowd Canyon is between the west end of Vail and the junction of U.S. 6 & 24 (Dowd Junction).  

Full, intermittent closures of I-70 were in place on Monday to complete rock removal operations from the slope above the highway.  

As part of its Whole System – Whole Safety campaign, CDOT prioritizes the removal or the securing of potential, identified hazards such as loose rocks and boulders.  This operation will provide I-70 drivers with a safety enhancement through an area that is prone to rockfall. 

Remember to Slow for the Cone Zone

The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones.

  • Do not speed in work zones; obey the posted speed limits.
  • Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected.
  • Watch for workers; drive with caution.
  • Don't change lanes unnecessarily.
  • Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones.
  • Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you.
  • Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.
  • Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
  • Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.
  • Anticipate lane shifts, and merge when directed to do so.
  • Be Patient!

 

To heighten safety awareness, CDOT recently announced its Whole System - Whole Safety initiative. This project takes a systematic statewide approach to safety combining the benefits of CDOT’s programs that address human factors, physical assets and organizational culture to better support real time operations. The goal is to improve the safety of Colorado’s transportation network by reducing the rate and severity of crashes and improving safety conditions for those traveling by all transportation modes. The program has one simple mission - to get everyone home safely. 

CDOT has approximately 3,000 employees throughout Colorado, and manages more than 23,000 lane miles of highway and 3,429 bridges. CDOT also manages grant partnerships with a range of other agencies, including metropolitan planning organizations, local governments, and airports, and administers Bustang, the state-owned and operated interregional express service. Gov. Jared Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s intermodal mobility options.