Overnight full eastbound closure at Eisenhower Tunnel for fire system testing

September 4, 2019 - Denver Metro Area, Colorado

Motorists can expect a full closure on eastbound Interstate 70 just ahead of the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel overnight Thursday, September 5 into Friday morning, September 6 as The Colorado Department of Transportation completes testing of the fixed fire suppression system in the tunnel. The first round of testing happened in July, and this upcoming closure is to wrap up that process. The testing is crucial in ensuring the system is properly working in the event a fire breaks out in the tunnel.

The lane closure schedule is as follows:

  • Overnight Thursday, September 5 into Friday, September 6- full closure of eastbound I-70 beginning at exit 205 (CO 9, US 6) through the EJMT from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
  • Traffic headed eastbound on I-70 will be detoured at exit 205 over Loveland Pass (US 6) to get back onto EB I-70.

The full closure allows for the testing to take place in a more efficient manner without stopping traffic for each test.

Motorists can stay up to date on road closures at all times at cotrip.org. Drivers can also sign up for customized travel alerts via text and email on CDOT’s website.

 

WHOLE SYSTEM. WHOLE SAFETY.  

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 driving behaviors, our built environment and the organization's operations. The goal is to improve the safety of Colorado’s transportation network by reducing the rate and severity of crashes and improving the safety of all transportation modes. The program has one simple mission—to get everyone home safely.