GoI70

I70 travelers love this time of year!  Congestion on the I70 mountain corridor is pretty much non-existant until Memorial Day.   Mid-week delays might occur due to construction, and we will let you know if any major delays are expected in the coming weeks. 

The GoI70 weekend travel forecasts will resume in advance of Memorial Day Weekend. 
Thank you for your support!

I70 should be fairly congestion-free this weekend in both directions with the exception of Eastbound on Sunday afternoon/evening.  Here is what traffic delays were like the last two years:

So avoid the 2:00-6:00 timeframe and you should be in good shape for a congestion- free trip.

As always, we would appreciate hearing from you via Twitter as you travel the corridor.  Thank you for your support!

This I70 travel report is showing signs of spring and summer – construction and maintenance projects are underway!  Here are some things you can expect this week.

1)    The Frontage Road near Idaho Springs will be closed for utility and construction work from Exit 241 at Idaho Springs to Exit 243 at the Hidden Valley/Central City Interchange. Electronic signs have been placed and will notify all vehicular traffic of the road closure and alternate routes.

2)    Georgetown Hill Rock Mitigation: Monday – Tuesday – 10:00 a.m. to dark:  Right lane WB will be closed from MM 228 to MM 226 as needed.  Wednesday & Thursday- 10:00 a.m. to dark: 20 minute traffic stops for EB & WB from MM 226-MM228.

3)    EB and WB on Floyd Hill:  Alternating lane closures Tuesday-Thursday 7:00 am-dark.

4)    Eastbound approach to Eisenhower Tunnel: The left hand lane will be closed for EB traffic between mile posts 195-201Monday-Friday 10am-5:30pm.

Travel Forecast for this weekend specifically….

Westbound to the Mountains
As is very typical for Saturdays, traffic will build around 6:00 a.m., peak at 8:00 (expect approximately 20 minutes of delays if traveling from Golden to Vail), with traffic back to an easy flow by 10:00 a.m.  Sunday westbound delays were not much of a factor on this weekend the past two years.

Eastbound to the Front Range
On Saturday, skiers and riders will start filing onto I70 at 2:00 pm.  Delays shouldn’t be too significant (approximately 20 minutes) barring any accidents or weather.   Given that we have light later these days, light traffic might continue past the usual 6:00 p.m. timeframe.    Sunday will be a much bigger travel day on I70!  Last year, traffic was getting thick by 10:00 a.m., and traffic lasted well into the evening.   Your best bet will be to stay in the mountains for dinner, and then miss most of the traffic heading back after the dinner hour.

Enjoy the spring skiing!

Treats for Tweets Winners:
Congratulations to the following winners of the GoI70 Treats for Tweets drawing.  These folks tweeted their I70 travel observations to @goi70, and now they get free stuff!

Dan Lynn:  Copper Mountain Lift Ticket
Front Range Ski Bus:  Arapahoe Basin lift ticket

This Weekend’s Travel Forecast:
The weather forecast is for beautiful blue skies and warm temps throughout the weekend.  The mountains are still hosting plenty of spring breakers, but weekend traffic has not been significant the last two weekends.

West to the Mountains
Friday evening might see some westbound delays between 4:00-7:00 p.m.  Saturday morning westbound delays peaked at about 15 minutes the last two years.   Expect folks to start filling the lanes Saturday at 6:00 a.m., peak about 7:30 or 8:00, with traffic becoming almost non-existent soon after 10:00 a.m.  On this Sunday last year, Sunday delays peaked at 18 minutes at 8:00 a.m.

East to the Front Range
Saturday traffic delays began at 3:00 p.m. the last two years, peaked at 5:00 and were minimal after 6:00 p.m.  This same pattern also applies to Sunday, but the eastbound rush will likely start soon after noon and delays can be more significant at the 3:00-4:00 p.m. peak.  Plan to stick around the high country for a bite to eat or shopping. Check out some of the Deals that corridor businesses have to offer.

Have a great weekend!

Weekend Travel Forecast:
The weather forecast calls for sunny skies for the coming days, so if you like bluebird ski days, this is your weekend!

The winner of the most recent Treats for Tweets drawing is Stephanie Lee.  She received a Copper Mountain Lift ticket in return for contributing her I70 traffic observations to @goi70.    Tweet @goi70 and you too could be a winner!

Westbound to the Mountains
Friday:  Evening delays were approximately 5-14 minutes between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m.

Saturday:  In previous years, there was a peak 10-20 min delay between 6:00 and 10:00 a.m.

Sunday:  There were very minimal delays on past Sundays, but travelers are most likely to hit westbound traffic around 8:00 a.m.

Eastbound to Front Range
Saturday:  Delays were very minimal (only 5 minutes) on this Saturday the previous two years. 

Sunday:  Your best bet is to stay in the high country for dinner, shopping or night skiing!  Otherwise, plan to be well on the road by 11:00 a.m.  Delays were significant on this same Sunday in previous years, and included Metering at the tunnel.   

REMEMBER, CDOT has frequently metered traffic eastbound on weekend evenings which means up to 20 minute traffic stops at the tunnel. This can sometimes cause the delays to continue past the usual 6:00 p.m. timeframe.  Check GoI70.com/mobile before you jump on the road to see if CDOT is metering, and what the traffic is like at that moment.

To receive timely info on the traffic delays and road closures, 

Fortunately, I70 is congestion-free the majority of the time, and traffic is quite predictable.  In addition to this weekend/holiday forecast posted every Friday, GoI70.com also posts the Typical Winter Traffic Pattern. This link is perfect information to share with lodging guests, or folks you know who are planning a trip to the Colorado mountains.

This Weekend’s Traffic:
Only very light snow is forecasted for Friday night and only a slight chance of snow on Saturday.  Sunday is expected to be breezy and clear.

Westbound to the Mountains

Saturday:  Expect a 30-40 minute delay at the peak travel time around 8:00 a.m.  Plan to leave before 6:00 am to miss the rush, and traffic should taper off soon after 10:00 a.m.

Sunday:  Delays on this Sunday in recent years was minimal at about 7 minutes. 

Eastbound to Front Range

Saturday:  Historically, this day in previous years has yielded a very typical weekend traffic pattern.  Traffic builds at 2:00, peaks at 4:00 and drops off very soon after 6:00 p.m.  The last two years saw 12-22 minute delays.

Sunday:  We are starting to see a more consistent trend on Sunday afternoons where the rush back to the Front Range starts much earlier than it does on Saturdays.  The masses start hitting the road around noon, the peak is from about 3:00-4:00, and then traffic steadily decreases to a zero minute delay soon after 6:00 p.m.  The last two years the peak delay was 40-50 minutes.

REMEMBER, CDOT has frequently metered traffic eastbound on Sunday evenings which means up to 20 minute traffic stops at the tunnel. This can sometimes cause the delays to continue past the usual 6:00 p.m. timeframe.  Check GoI70.com/mobile before you jump on the road to see if CDOT is metering, and what the traffic is like at that moment.

To receive timely info on the traffic delays and road closures, 

Several corridor resorts support efforts to reduce I70 traffic by offering carpool incentives.  Check out how you can get a reduced lift ticket, close-in parking, or a parking discount here!

Weekend Travel Forecast:

Light snow is forecasted for Saturday night, but weather shouldn’t be much of a factor this weekend. 

 Here is the traffic you might expect this weekend:

 Westbound to the Mountains
Only very minor delays are expected Friday evening.  Saturday traffic the past two years built up quickly at 6:00 a.m., peaked at 8:00 a.m. with an approximate 45-60 minute delay, and traffic dropped off dramatically after 10:00 a.m.  There were no westbound morning delays on the last Sunday in February in the last two years.

Eastbound to Front Range
Past Saturdays, eastbound congestion started at 2:00 p.m., peaked at 4:00 and dropped to almost no delays just after 6:00 p.m.  On Sunday, folks headed for home earlier resulting in traffic building closer to Noon.  The peak hit between 4:00-4:30, and the road cleared by about 6:30*. 

*REMEMBER, CDOT has frequently metered traffic EB on weekend evenings which means up to 20 minute traffic stops at the tunnel. This can sometimes cause the delays to continue past the usual 6:00-6:30 p.m. timeframe.  Check GoI70.com/mobile before you jump on the road to see if CDOT is metering, and what the traffic is like at that moment.

To receive timely info on the traffic delays and road closures via text,

When making your travel plans for this holiday weekend be prepared for delays, or better yet, plan to avoid the peak travel times!  According to OpenSnow.com, (THE place to get your powder forecast) light snow is expected Friday night, Sunday night, and Monday into Monday night.  Keep this in mind when making your travel plans.

Westbound Forecast
Friday – No delays last year, but in 2010 the delays were significant from 3:30-9:30 p.m. 

Saturday – Last year delays ran from 6:30 to 9:00 a.m. and peaked at 27 minute delays.  In 2010, the delays started earlier, ran later and had peak delays at an ugly 72 minutes.

Sunday -The last two years’ delays began very soon after 6:00 a.m. and ended around 9:30 a.m.  Congestion reached a peak delay of 35 minutes right around 8:00 a.m.

Monday-Minimal delays of 10 minutes around 8:30 a.m.

Eastbound Forecast
Saturday-Last year, delays on Saturday afternoon were minimal.

Sunday-Delays the previous two years were not severe, but peaked with a 26 minute delay at 2:00 p.m.

Monday- Expect lots of congestion from 1:30-6:00 p.m.  Metering is possible-see immediately below.

REMEMBER, CDOT occasionally meters traffic EB on weekend evenings which means up to 20 minute traffic stops at the Eisenhower/Johnson Tunnel. This can cause delays later into the evening than forecasted.  Check GoI70.com/mobile before you jump on the road to see if CDOT is metering, and what the traffic is like at that moment. 

Take your time, stay alert and keep up to date with the GoI70 mobile app at http://goI70.com/mobile

In October 2011, the Colorado Transportation Commission approved $60 million in funding for this project.  According to CDOT, the Twin Tunnel project proposes to immediately address safety issues and improve traffic flow at the Twin Tunnels east of Idaho Springs, one of the most critical congestion bottlenecks on the I-70 Mountain Corridor.  This project would build a third lane on eastbound I-70, beginning west of the Twin Tunnels and continue east to the base of Floyd Hill, where eastbound I-70 currently becomes three lanes.

This option includes flattening the curve on eastbound I-70, just east of the Twin Tunnels, enhancing safety and allowing for increased speed through this section. The project does not include westbound Twin Tunnel or westbound I-70 improvements. Furthermore, this project does not violate the long-term solution for the I-70 Mountain Corridor as outlined in the I-70 Mountain Corridor Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS.)  During construction, traffic will be rerouted around the Twin Tunnels and placed on an improved frontage road.

Implementation Timeline:    The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) must still approve the project, and is expected to issue a decision by the fall of 2012. If the project receives the federally required approvals, construction would begin in the spring of 2013, and be open to traffic by the end of 2013.

Weekend Travel Forecast:

Here is what history has shown us for this mid-February weekend traffic:

 Westbound to the Mountains

On this Saturday in previous years, traffic delays started at 6:30 a.m. and peaked around 9:00 a.m. with 30 minute delays.  There were delays of under 10 minutes by 10:30 a.m.    The Sunday historic data shows delays of only 20 minutes between 6:00 and 8:30 a.m.

Eastbound to Front Range

The previous years’ Saturday patterns show a build-up at Noon, a peak at 5:00 and diminishing traffic at 6:00 p.m.  Historic data on this Sunday in previous years shows an earlier peak travel time.  Traffic started to build closer to 1:00, peaked between 3:00 and 4:00, and dropped off right around 6:00 p.m.

REMEMBER, it is very possible that CDOT will put either speed harmonization or metering into effect EB on Sunday.  Speed harmonization could start as early as 11:00 a.m. in Silverthorne, and traffic would follow a pace car at a controlled speed to Empire.  Metering means up to 20 minute traffic stops at the tunnel. Metering can sometimes cause the delays to continue past the usual 6:00 p.m. timeframe. 

Check GoI70.com/mobile before you jump on the road to see if CDOT has put these practices into play, and to learn what the traffic is like at that moment.

Thanks to the many travelers who have shared their I70 traffic observations via Twitter.  GoI70 was always intended to offer real-time, traveler-provided information, and our followers are doing just that.  We want to hear from more of you, so tweet @goi70 and be entered to win “Treats for Tweets.”  Many thanks to our prize sponsors Copper Mountain Resort, Dillon Dam Brewery and Arapahoe Basin Ski Area!!

Congratulations recent “Treats for Tweets” Winners:
@PackerFever – wins a Copper Mountain Lift Ticket & $25Dillon Dam Brewery Cert.
@NancyDempsey – wins a Copper Mountain Lift Ticket

Weekend Travel Forecast:

Weather will be the biggest factor east of the Continental Divide although the snow is supposed to taper off in Denver and the foothills Saturday morning.  Very light snow is expected west of the Divide through Saturday, with sunny skies on Sunday. 

Westbound to the Mountains

On this Saturday in previous years, traffic delays started at 6:30 a.m. and peaked around 9:00 a.m. with 20 minute delays.  After 10:30 a.m. you can count on traffic moving pretty freely, barring bad weather and accidents.  The Sunday historic data shows delays of only 10 minutes between 6:00 and 8:30 a.m.

Eastbound to Front Range

The previous years’ Saturday patterns show congestions starting at Noon, steadily increasing to a peak at 5:00 and diminishing traffic at 6:00 p.m.  On Sunday, traffic started to build closer to 1:00, peaked between 3:00 and 4:00, and dropped off just before 6:00 p.m.

REMEMBER, if traffic volumes are very high, CDOT could start metering traffic EB on Saturday and/or Sunday afternoons.  This means up to 20 minute traffic stops at the tunnel and can sometimes cause the delays to continue past the usual 6:00 p.m. timeframe.  Check GoI70.com/mobile before you jump on the road to see if CDOT is metering, and what the traffic is like at that moment.

To receive timely info on the traffic delays and road closures,