I-70 closed as vehicles struggle to climb steep hill west of Denver

UPDATE: Both directions of I-70 were re-opened shortly after midnight. 

Trucks failing to gain traction on the snow-covered lanes of Interstate 70 west of Denver clogged traffic to the point that highway officials closed the highway Friday night. 

Snowplows and tow trucks had issues getting through traffic to assist the stuck trucks, prompting the closure of eastbound lanes of I-70 from the bottom of Floyd Hill to its summit. 

A smaller number of passengers cars also contributed to the problem.

The westbound lanes were closed around 8:30 p.m. "due to safety concerns," as CDOT indicated. The closure point was moved downhill to Morrison Road just before 10 p.m., extending the length of closed highway.

The closure comes as the snow and low temperatures move out of the high country and into the Front Range. 

The eastbound lanes of I-70 were closed between mile markers 243 and 251 just before 8 p.m.

An adjacent section of U.S. 40 which is often used as a frontage road was also closed.