Winter Driving Assistance Programs

Heavy Tow

CDOT’s Heavy Tow or Quick Clearance winter program provides standby heavy wreckers at strategic locations along I-70, between Floyd Hill and Vail Pass, allowing stalled and spun-out commercial vehicles to be moved quickly from traffic lanes to a safe location. This program, which began in 2008, continues to be successful at reducing traffic congestion and delays along the Interstate 70 West corridor. Quick Clearance begins each year during the Thanksgiving weekend and ends in late April.  It can also be implemented during holidays or other occasions, such as severe storms.  Before implementation of the Quick Clearance program, the average time to clear a commercial vehicle from a traffic lane was approximately 50 minutes.

Statistics

• November-2018-April 2019
  • 331 commercial vehicles relocated
  • 442 lanes cleared
  • Average Clearance time: 22.5 minutes

The program provides benefits that far outweigh the cost, which is about $500,000 a year.  Studies have shown that for every hour the I-70 West Corridor is closed to traffic, it can have an economic impact of up to $800,000, with a majority of those revenues affecting surrounding communities.

*First year of year-round service, **Thru 4/30