Summer travel season coming to a close

News Release

August 31, 2023 - Denver - Expect additional traffic in many areas of the state due to the numerous events and recreational activities taking place over the Labor Day weekend.

Denver – The Colorado Department of Transportation is reminding drivers to expect additional traffic in many areas of the state due to the numerous events and recreational activities taking place over the Labor Day weekend.

Beginning at noon on Friday, 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. 5.

Heavier than normal traffic should be anticipated over the holiday weekend along the Front Range and on Interstate 70 west of Denver. Traffic on I-70 is at its peak primarily from mid-morning until early evening on Friday, and from early morning to mid-afternoon on Saturday. Eastbound I-70 traffic will be at its highest on Labor Day from mid-morning to late afternoon, especially from Eagle and Summit counties to the Denver area.

The 2022 Labor Day weekend traffic numbers at the Eisenhower/Johnson Memorial Tunnels:

Date Westbound Traffic Eastbound Traffic Total Traffic
Friday, Sept. 2 33,693 17,565 51,258
Saturday, Sept. 3 28,019 18,140 46,159
Sunday, Sept. 4 19,561 27,243 46,804
Monday, Sept. 5 15,931 28,652 44,583
Total Over Four Days 97,204 91,600 188,804

Colorado 5 – the Mount Evans Highway – closes from Summit Lake to the top on Tuesday morning, Sept. 5. The remaining segment from Echo Lake to Summit Lake remains 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 www.cotrip.org or by calling 511. Specific information regarding Interstate 70 is available at: www.GoI70.com.
Please be aware that Colorado’s new Move-Over Law requires drivers to move over or slow down when they come upon first responder, maintenance, passenger, and Safety Patrol vehicles stopped on the shoulder.

CDOT Safety Patrol vehicles are available to assist motorists in need and keep traffic flowing over Labor Day weekend. The coverage area includes major highways in the Denver area and I-25 north of Denver to Fort Collins and south of Denver to Colorado Springs. Peak patrol times are 6 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Off-Peak patrol times are 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Weekend Patrol is 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. More information can be found on CDOT’s website and SafetyPatrolinfo.com. The Safety Patrol is sponsored by GEICO.

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:

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!