Featured Image: Gabe Rovick
The holiday season can be a complete rollercoaster when it comes to navigating the stretch of Interstate 70 known infamously as the I-70 mountain corridor. This sprawling stretch of roadway rolls through the heart of Colorado, bringing skiers to the incredible terrain of Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, Loveland Ski Area, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain and far more. While there are plenty of horror stories and tales of red snakes on this stretch of road, we assure you there is a way to avoid all that. Here are FREESKIER’s coveted tips on how to stay sane on I-70 as the New Year approaches.
First things first; you’ve got to make a plan, and it’s got to be done in advance. This is a no-brainer, but make sure it’s checked off well before you toss those boots in the car. Roaming with no set destination can be awesome, and it has certainly yielded some memorable adventures for us, but we don’t recommend it over the holidays.
For weather forecasts, we prefer to use OpenSnow. This isn’t an ad; it’s just a great product. You can search by specific resorts or areas, checking forecasts even 10 days out. Currently, the weather seems clear in the coming week with the exception of a weak storm rolling in Tuesday, December 24 through Thursday, December 26.
I-70 Mountain Corridor Communications Direction Austyn Dineen told us that weather aside, it’s always best to pick your travel time strategically even if the skies are clear.”The best times to travel on I-70 during the holidays are early mornings (before 7:00 AM) and late nights (after 9:00 PM), as these periods typically experience lighter traffic,” Dineen said. “Avoid peak travel times, such as weekday afternoons (3:00 PM to 7:00 PM), Fridays, and Sunday evenings. The Snowstang shuttle bus is also a great way to relax on the way to the slopes!”
One of our favorite tools to use when traveling on I-70 is the COtrip Planner app. Dineen mentioned this is her favorite of the tools CDOT provides, noting, “[The app] makes it easier than ever for travelers to get quick access to information they need before they head out… road conditions, traffic incidents, plow tracker, weather radar, weather alerts and chain/traction law layers are automatically switched on eliminating the legwork needed to activate these popular layers.”
The app gives you access to information that extends throughout Colorado, so even if your holiday travels take you away from I-70, you can be prepared. The app automatically is switched into winter mode, but it’s still worth it to check that the applicable layers, (road conditions, traffic, etc.) are turned on. We recommend using the Trip Planner feature, which allows you to make your own map by inputting your start point and final destination.
One of the major construction projects currently being conducted on I-70 is Floyd Hill project. This endeavor has been years in the making, with construction officially kicking off last year. The goal is to alleviate bottlenecked traffic in this eight-mile stretch of I-70 just east of Idaho Spring by rebuilding existing infrastructure and adding a third westbound lane.
Along with several other tasks, the project will construct a missing two-mile section of the frontage road between US 6 and the Hidden Valley/Central City Parkway interchanges and build an extended on-ramp from US 6 onto eastbound I-70 for slow-moving vehicles to have more room to merge. This is a years-long endeavor, with current operations expected to continue through 2026.
In the current stage of the project, teams will be blasting from 9 AM until 3 PM (4 PM if delayed), Monday through Thursday. When work resumes in the coming weeks, we highly recommend driving past this section of road between Exits 248 and Exit 241 before 9 AM or after 4 PM on those days, as delays can be 45 minutes or longer.
Editor’s Note: The Floyd Hill construction project will see no blasting and thus no traffic stops over the coming holiday week.
Remember, winter conditions can put Colorado’s Traction Law in effect. From September 1 to May 31, the Traction Law is always active on I-70 from Dotsero to Morrison. This law requires that all motorists including passenger vehicles (i.e. most likely the vehicle you use to drive) to have either a 4WD or AWD vehicle and 3/16” tread depth, tires with a mud and snow designation (M+S icon) and 3/16” tread depth, winter tires (mountain-snowflake icon) and 3/16” tread depth, tires with an all-weather rating by the manufacturer and 3/16” tread depth, or chains / an approved alternative traction device.
Click here to learn more about the Traction Law and specific approved alternative traction devices.
In addition to everything we’ve mentioned above, CDOT’s comprehensive travel guide has plenty of tips and links that can help you ensure a safe and efficient holiday journey. A few of our favorite tips from the pros at CDOT are:
- Avoid the Peak Travel Times (mid-morning and evening.) If heading eastbound on Saturday or Sunday, plan to leave the mountains after 7:00 p.m. Check the weekend and holiday Travel Forecast.
- Spend a Sunday night in the mountains and head to work or school early Monday morning.
- Create or join a carpool with the TreadShare App. This is an easy-to-use resource and great for meeting like-minded rippers.
- Consider taking a bus, train, van to the mountains and leave the driving to someone else. These options include the Snowstang Bus, Amtrak Winter Park Express, or the Epic Mountain Shuttle if you’re coming from DIA.
As always, please drive carefully and don’t get behind the wheel if you’re tired or have been drinking. Everyone else is trying to get to and from the mountain safely, so leave space and don’t be afraid to let someone merge.
Finally, and arguably the most important part of the plan, hit the checklist before you leave home! Skis, boots, poles, helmet, goggles, gloves… you know the drill. We’ve all been there when a friend, after driving for hours, realizes they’ve left a vital piece of gear. We love having a beer in the lodge, but skiing is much more fun.
We hope you have a fantastic holiday no matter where you’re riding. There’s an unavoidable stress this time of year with so many people on the go, but these tools should help get you riding and happy with as few worries as possible.
PHOTO: Gabe Rovick | SKIER: Max Kirsh
