The holiday season brings heavy traffic to the I-70 Mountain Corridor, with visitors looking to enjoy the snowy peaks and festive towns for some holiday cheer. With a bit of planning, travelers can enjoy more mountains and less traffic between Saturday, Dec. 20, and Sunday, Jan. 4. The best resource is GoI70.com’s detailed weekend and holiday Travel Forecast, posted each Thursday, which helps travelers plan to avoid peak travel times.
Good news for holiday travelers: There will be no scheduled traffic impacts on the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) construction projects on the I-70 Mountain Corridor, including the I-70 Floyd Hill Project, during the holidays. CDOT’s holiday construction traffic impacts moratorium will be in effect from 6 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 20, through 6 a.m., Monday, Jan. 5, helping to ease congestion during this busy travel period. Even with no planned construction impacts, drivers should expect increased holiday traffic and are encouraged to drive safely.
Before heading out for the holidays, travelers should ensure their vehicles are winter-ready. Make sure to read up on Colorado’s Passenger Vehicle Traction Law and confirm your tires meet requirements. Learn more about traveling wisely this winter at codot.gov/travel/winter-driving. Roadway conditions can change quickly and significantly affect travel times, so motorists are encouraged to use COtrip.org for real-time traffic information, viewing highway cameras and trip planning.
A variety of transit options are also available to get between the Denver metro area and various mountain towns along the I-70 Mountain Corridor, with free and easy local transit options available once you reach your destination. For those who drive, the I-70 Mountain Express Lanes are open on weekends and holidays, offering a faster and more reliable option between Denver and the mountains. During very high-volume periods, traffic metering may be used at the Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnel to improve safety by controlling eastbound traffic flow.
With smart planning and the right tools, holiday travel on I-70 can be safer, smoother and more enjoyable.