GoI70

Posts Tagged ‘Twitter’

Looking at the historical data, traffic is well-distributed westbound on Friday evenings and weekend mornings.  Traffic heading east on Saturday afternoon traffic should not be significant, based on historical data.  For eastbound travel this Sunday, expect traffic to build quickly just before 1:00, peak between 4:00 and 5:00 and drop off around 7:30 p.m.   Peak delays might be in the range of 40-60 minutes based on a trip from Vail to Golden.

In the summer, weather plays a large factor in traveler behavior.  If rain showers move in early in the day, expect the masses to head to the Front Range early as well.

We Need More Eyes
If you use Twitter and travel the I70 corridor, we want to hear from you!  The very unique thing about GoI70.com is that it is a TWO WAY communication tool.  See traffic building due to volume or an accident, or any other newsworthy event?  Help out your fellow travelers and post that information to GoI70.com/mobile under Messages.  Just use your Twitter login information – quick and easy.

Summer Deals
The GoI70 Deals section has been updated for summer.  Corridor businesses have created specials with you, the I70 traveler, in mind.  Check out the offerings!

Have fun out there this weekend!

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!

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,

CDOT has announced that speed harmonization will be in place this Sunday, 1/22/12, beginning between 11:00 a.m and noon, through mid to late afternoon.   Colorado State Patrol and local law enforcement will “pace” cars at 45-55 mph based on road conditions from Silverthorne to the bottom or Floyd Hill.  If you have experienced Speed Harmonization, what did you think?  We’d love to hear your comments via the Comment section below.

Congratulations Randall M., our first winner of the “Treats for Tweets” promotion.  His prize is a one day Copper Mountain lift ticket.  Big thanks to Copper Mountain Resort!   The next drawing is in two weeks.  Tweet your I70 traffic or travel observation to @goi70 and be entered to win lift tickets and other prizes.

Weekend Travel Forecast:

Snow is expected this weekend with the heaviest snow falling Saturday evening.  Winter driving conditions have a big effect on traffic, so be prepared for potentially longer delays, and for the possibility that traffic might last later into the evening than usual.  Keep an eye on current conditions via GoI70.com/mobile.

Westbound to the Mountains

On this weekend in previous years, Saturday delays started to build soon after 6:30 a.m., peaked around 8:00 and didn’t drop of until after 11:00 a.m.   Sunday morning WB traffic generally tends to be a bit lighter than Saturday, but with the potential big powder day on Sunday, congestion might be heavier than usual and follow the Saturday WB pattern.

Eastbound to Front Range

Previous Saturdays, cars started convening on I70 around 2:30 p.m., congestion peaked at 5:00 and dropped dramatically after 6:00 p.m.  Previous Sundays, I70 traffic started earlier at 1:30 p.m., traffic peaked earlier at 4:30 and dropped off soon after 6:00 pm.

Enjoy the snow!  Please let us hear from you this weekend with a message to @goi70 via Twitter!

Tweet your I70 traffic observation to @goi70 and be entered to win lift tickets, and dining gift cards!   Every two weeks, names of anyone who has contributed I70 traffic and road observations to the @goi70 Twitter stream in the previous two week period will be “thrown in the hat.”  Winners will be chosen at random and sent a message via Twitter telling them they are a lucky winner.   

We are looking for quality postings over quantity, but if you submit multiple, informational Tweets, your chances to win will increase.  GoI70 discourages texting and driving, so either pull the car over to text, or ask your passenger to do the submission for you!

The GoI70 project was designed to be a two-way information stream with you, the I70 traveler, providing real time information on corridor travel happenings.  You can contribute by sending a message to @goi70 via Twitter, or by clicking Messages at GoI70.com/mobile.

Thanks in advance for your valuable contributions to GoI70.com.

Weekend Travel Forecast

This weekend is expected to bring snow to the I70 corridor Saturday afternoon and into the wee hours of Sunday.  The typical weekend traffic pattern will hold, but snow can often make the traffic delay greater and last longer. 

West bound traffic on mornings where weather hasn’t been a factor has been fairly spread out this year with only short delays.  This Sunday morning could be a little sloppy through the foothills as the snow is supposed to favor areas east of the Continental Divide.

East bound travelers on Saturday will start hitting the highway around 2:00 pm with a peak delay between 4:00-4:30, and traffic clearing out soon after 6:00 p.m.  The forecasted light snow for Saturday afternoon may or may not complicate things.   The pattern is similar on Sunday except congestion may start earlier – by 1:00 p.m.

Please consider performing a snow dance to Ullr, the Norse God of Winter.   We need snow!!

Do you Twitter?
If you do and you will be on the I70 corridor this weekend, please be a part of the GoI70 community by contributing information.  We are struggling with some technical difficulties and could use your help this weekend more than ever.  To share your current I70 observations simply go to GoI70.com/mobile and click Messages.  Use your Twitter login information and then type in your traffic observations – quick and easy.  Remember to reference if you are traveling EB or WB and your general location.  Your fellow GoI70 travelers will thank you!!

Forecast
The Saturday eastbound traffic on this weekend in past years did not show much in the way of congestion.  Sundays do show significant delays beginning at 10:00 a.m. and running until almost 7:00 p.m.  Traffic on those Sundays peaked at about 3:30 the last two years.   With the July 4^th holiday falling on a Monday, this might spread out the typical Sunday eastbound volume over two days.   Travelers should expect Sunday congestion patterns on Monday, so avoid the 3:00-6:00 timeframe if heading back to the Front Range.

Happy 4^th of July!

Summer is in full swing, which means lots of folks are heading up I70 in search of trails, rivers, wildflowers and music festivals.  Looking at the historical data, traffic is well-distributed westbound on weekend mornings.  The late June eastbound Saturday traffic is not as significant as Sunday, and tends to peak in the early evening.   Eastbound travel on Sundays in late June typically follows the winter formula – building around 1:00, peaking at 4:00 and dropping off soon after 6:00 p.m.   In the summer, weather plays a larger factor in traveler behavior.  If rain showers move in early in the day, expect the masses to head to the Front Range early as well.

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is advising drivers to be prepared for approximately 1300 bicyclists on Interstate 70, east of the Eisenhower/Johnson Memorial Tunnel (EJMT), on Saturday, June 25.

An eastbound paving operation on Vail Pass (MP 180 and 190) is causing eastbound congestion in late afternoons, Mon-Thur.  The project will be completed in July.

Summer Deals
The GoI70 Deals section has been updated and expanded for summer.  Corridor businesses have created specials with you, the I70 traveler, in mind.  Check out the offerings!

We Need More Eyes
If you use Twitter and travel the I70 corridor, we want to hear from you.  The very unique thing about GoI70.com is that it is a TWO WAY communication tool.  See traffic building due to volume or an accident, or any other newsworthy event?  Help out your fellow travelers and post that information to GoI70.com/mobile under Messages.  Just use your Twitter login information – quick and easy.

Have fun out there this weekend!