COLORADO – Driving conditions are rough along the I-70 corridor and they’re expected to stay that way with another winter storm moving through the high country.
Eastbound I-70 was closed near Vail for several hours on Sunday for a rolled over semi. At a little after 5:00 a.m. on Monday morning, another semi rolled just west of Vail near the town of Eagle. The Westbound lanes are completely closed until the accident can be cleaned up.
In addition, the passenger vehicle traction law is in effect for I-70 between Idaho Springs and Vail. Commercial vehicles are required to chain up. U.S. 6 over Loveland Pass is closed. If you plan on traveling through the Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnels in either direction, plan on delays near the top of every hour. With U.S. 6 closed, officials from the tunnel close down the lanes to regular traffic to allow semi’s carrying hazardous materials through the tunnel.
Watch for trucks chaining up on the sides of the highway and plan on a longer than usual trip up into the high country. Always make sure that you have your emergency kit in your vehicle when traveling through Colorado’s mountains during the winter. Also, make sure that you keep your gas tank filled in case you have to spend hours on a closed highway.
