Drivers cautioned about sun glare safety closures on eastbound Interstate 70 at Floyd Hill

I-70 MOUNTAIN CORRIDOR- Early November marks the beginning of sun glare season. The Colorado Department of Transportation wants to remind drivers that safety closures due to sun glare can occur in the morning hours on eastbound Interstate 70 at Floyd Hill from November through February annually. The sun’s angle, in combination with the hill and the highway’s configuration, can create a blinding sun glare for drivers as they head eastbound up Floyd Hill (about Mile Points 244 to 248 – east of Idaho Springs). The intense sun glare occurs as far east as Genesee beginning around sunrise and lasting until around 8:30 a.m.  

CDOT provides advance notification of the potential hazard with messages on its electronic sign boards prior to Floyd Hill, alerting motorists of the sun glare and to anticipate slower speeds. Drivers who travel eastbound I-70 in the early morning hours during fall and winter are urged to pay attention to the overhead message boards beginning just east of the Eisenhower Johnson Memorial Tunnel. Additionally, drivers can check the latest travel alerts by going to COtrip.org.

The sun glare closures at Floyd Hill are for the safety of the traveling public. The decision is made on a case by case basis each morning with collaboration between Colorado State Patrol and CDOT personnel who are stationed near Floyd Hill. The eastbound sun glare can become blinding for motorists, especially when there is leftover moisture on the roadway from a storm or from pre-storm road treatment materials. On top of that, mountain driving conditions include steep hills, sharp turns, and unknown scenarios such as wildlife crossing the highway. For these reasons, the sun glare safety closures at Floyd Hill become necessary. This is a unified effort between CSP and CDOT to keep motorists as safe as possible.

Detour Route

If a sun glare safety closure is in place during your morning commute along eastbound I-70:

• Traffic headed eastbound on I-70 will be rerouted at Exit 244 (US 6) which is at the bottom of Floyd Hill. 
• Motorists can either stay the course on US 6 through Clear Creek Canyon, or they can take the eastbound I-70 frontage road (US 40) and get back onto I-70 at Beaver Brook (Exit 248).Truckers should be aware, there are height restrictions in the tunnels along US 6 Clear Creek Canyon, therefore no vehicles over 12' 7"  can travel this route.
  The closures average around 45 minutes to an hour and can occur between sunrise and 8:30 a.m. from November through February each year. 

Other Driver Recommendations

• Adjust your eastbound I-70 travel plans near Floyd Hill to before sunrise or later in the morning. If possible, avoid traveling eastbound up Floyd Hill between 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. on sunny days November through February.
• Make sure your windshield is clean – inside and out. Ensure your vehicle has plenty of windshield wiper fluid.
• Wear a good pair of sunglasses to provide shading.
• Expect traffic slowdowns between 6:30 and 8:30 a.m. along I-70 eastbound near Floyd Hill, and adjust your speed to avoid sudden reactions.
• Let off the accelerator and slow down gradually instead of slamming on the brakes, if suddenly blinded by the sun.
• Road conditions can change quickly at this time of year. Drivers can check the latest road and weather conditions by going to COtrip.org.
• For more information visit codot.gov/travel/sunglare 

Photo of sun glare along eastbound I-70 near Floyd Hill

Photo credit: Master Sergeant Don Enloe, Colorado State Patrol

About CDOT

CDOT’s Whole System-Whole Safety program has one simple mission — to get everyone home safely. Our approximately 3,000 employees work tirelessly to reduce the rate and severity of crashes and improve the safety of all modes of transportation. The department manages more than 23,000 lane miles of highway, more than 3,000 bridges and 35 mountain passes. CDOT also manages grant partnerships with a range of agencies, including metropolitan planning organizations, local governments and airports. It also operates Bustang, the state-owned interregional express bus service. Gov. Jared Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s intermodal mobility options. 

Remember: 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!