Final weekend for summer travel season

Travel Advisory

September 1, 2022 - Statewide News - Beginning Friday at noon, CDOT is suspending all construction projects to reduce potential traffic delays. The only exception is for emergency operations.

Denver - –The Colorado Department of Transportation is reminding drivers to anticipate additional traffic in many areas of the state due to the numerous events and recreational activities taking place over Labor Day weekend.  
    
Beginning Friday at noon, CDOT is suspending all construction projects to reduce potential traffic delays. The only exception is for emergency operations. Projects can resume their regular schedule on Tuesday, Sept. 6.  
    
“If you’re traveling during these final days of summer, please be prepared for additional traffic on our roadways and give yourself more time to get to your destination,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “To ensure you have a safe and fun Labor Day weekend, follow the posted speed limits, don’t drink and drive and keep your full attention on the road – no distracted driving.”
    
Heavier than normal traffic should be anticipated on Interstate 25 along the Front Range and on I-70 west of Denver this weekend. I-70’s traffic tends to be heaviest from mid-morning until late afternoon on Friday, and from 7 a.m. to mid-afternoon on Saturday. Eastbound I-70 traffic will be at its peak on Labor Day from mid-morning to late afternoon, especially from Summit County to the Denver area.  
    
The 2021 Labor Day weekend traffic numbers at the Eisenhower/Johnson Memorial Tunnel:

Westbound Eastbound Total
Friday, Sept. 3 30,249 16,462 46,711
Saturday, Sept. 4 26,659 18,223 44,882
Sunday, Sept. 5 19,469 25,949 45,418
Monday, Sept. 6 16,426 30,517 46,943
Totals 92,803 91,151 183,954

Please Note: Glenwood Canyon Travel

Motorists planning to travel on I-70 in Glenwood Canyon should monitor road conditions on COtrip.org and weather forecasts. If the National Weather Service issues a Flash Flood Watch for the Grizzly Creek Fire burn scar in Glenwood Canyon, CDOT crews will be on standby and the recreation path and rest areas will be closed. If a Flash Flood Warning is issued by NWS, CDOT will immediately close I-70 in Glenwood Canyon between Glenwood Springs (exit 116) and Dotsero (exit 133). Safety closures are necessary to protect the traveling public from potential flooding and mudslides in Glenwood Canyon. Safety closures will remain in place until a Flash Flood Warning has ended and crews have confirmed the road is safe.

Colorado 5 – the Mount Evans Highway – closes from Summit Lake to the top on Tuesday morning, Sept. 6.  The remaining segment from Echo Lake to Summit Lake will stay open for the next few weeks, weather permitting.  

Other seasonal roadways – CO 82 over Independence Pass between Twin Lakes and Aspen and Trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mountain National Park – remain open through the fall until adverse weather requires a full closure for the winter. 

Drivers can get the latest information on the status of the state’s roadways by checking COtrip.org or by calling 511.  Specific information regarding Interstate 70 is available at: GoI70.com. 

Know Before You Go

Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts and anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:

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!

Download the COtrip App!

The new FREE COtrip Planner mobile app was designed to meet the growing trend of information on mobile and tablet devices for the traveling public. The COtrip Planner app provides statewide, real-time traffic information, and works on mobile devices that operate on the iOS and Android platforms. Visit the Google Play Store (Android devices) or the Apple Store (iOS devices) to download!