DENVER (KDVR) — Tens of thousands of drivers travel along the Interstate 70 corridor every day, and in Colorado’s winter weather, a drive through the mountains can become dangerous fast.
Over 7,000,000 drivers passed through the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel between October 2023 and April 2024. That winter, hundreds of crashes forced the interstate to close for 200 hours total, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
Even throughout the year, I-70 is regularly busy, and drivers can be caught off guard as the road is subject to crashes, closures and traffic backups that can cause delays that last for hours.
To help drivers be prepared for their trip through the I-70 mountain corridor, whether it be for skiing, leaf-peeping or summer hikes, CDOT has launched a new hub with all the resources drivers need for the “challenging drive.”
“Remember: the road is different here, and your travel plans should be too. The I-70 Mountain Corridor is a mountain road—motorists need to be mountain ready,” CDOT said in a statement to FOX31.
The new I-70 Mountain Corridor webpage on the CDOT website offers a live look at traffic and road conditions via cameras and the agency’s interactive COtrip map.
The road is notorious for dangerous winter driving conditions that can escalate quickly. Earlier this year, CDOT urged drivers to prepare for “treacherous driving conditions” on I-70 amid severe weather, and warnings like those are not uncommon.
A snow packed westbound I-70 is closed due to safety concerns on Feb. 14, 2025.
Interstate 70 is closed near mile post 209 on Feb. 14, 2025 due to safety concerns.
Snow on I-70 near Vail Pass (CDOT, 10/26)
Interstate 70 was closed Sunday night due to dangerous driving conditions. Heavy traffic backed up. (Colorado Department of Transportation)
The Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office said truckers stopping to put chains on are blocking traffic near Veterans Memorial Tunnel on eastbound I-70, causing a hazard for other drivers on Nov. 6, 2024.
CDOT’s new page has information about travel forecasts and tips for winter driving, from navigating a car on a slick road to preparing vehicles for the winter.
The website also has a plethora of resources and information about alternative travel options to avoid driving altogether, including multiple different shuttle buses that offer service to many mountain destinations along I-70.
It also has details about the chain and traction laws that require all drivers to have proper tires for winter conditions, chains or another approved traction device.
Before hitting the road this winter, CDOT recommends using the new I-70 webpage as well as CDOT’s trip planning tools, which are listed on the new page and can also be found online or in the COtrip Planner app.
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