Summer travel season coming to a close with a busy holiday 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. 3.

Motorists are urged to drive with caution through construction zones, heed the signs, slow down and leave plenty of space behind the vehicle ahead. Speeding is one of the leading causes of crashes statewide.

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 2023 Labor Day weekend traffic numbers at the Eisenhower/Johnson Memorial Tunnels:

This is the final weekend for motorized travel on CO 5 to the top of Mount Blue Sky. CO 5 to the summit is scheduled to close Sept. 3 through all of 2025 for both motorized and non-motorized travel due to construction. For more information, visit Mount Blue Sky Recreation Area web page. Regarding construction information, go to the Federal Highway Administration Mount Blue Sky web page.

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.

Bustang, Bustang Outrider and Pegasus, CDOT’s transit system, provides an alternative for those who would rather not drive. It offers service to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, and the cities and towns between Denver and Grand Junction and between Fort Collins and Trinidad. Outrider is an option for travel to other rural areas of the state. And Pegasus shuttle vans serve the I-70 west corridor between Denver and Avon. Please visit: www.ridebustang.com.

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.