Icy Roads Causing Traffic Headaches On I-70 In Colorado's High Country
VAIL, Colo. (CBS4)- Westbound lanes of Interstate 70 were closed between the Vail Pass Summit exit and the Vail exit on Wednesday afternoon. The closure from Exit 190 to Exit 176 was put in place at 1:17 p.m. due to safety concerns.
#I70 westbound: Road closed due to safety concerns between Exit 190 - Vail Pass Summit and Exit 176 - Vail. https://t.co/FjyWM62t4V
— Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) (@ColoradoDOT) March 9, 2022
The closure was lifted at around 2:30 p.m. However, another stretch was closed heading west between West Vail and Eagle at around 3:30 p.m.
#I70 westbound: Road closed due to a crash between Exit 173 - West Vail and Exit 169 - Eagle. https://t.co/k2FAgmnNE6
— Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) (@ColoradoDOT) March 9, 2022
Drivers were advised to expect delays.
Wednesday was declared a First Alert Weather Day by CBS4 meteorologists due to the cold and snow.
For Denver and the Front Range, there is a Winter Weather Advisory through 5 a.m. Thursday for at least 2-5 inches of snow. The Fort Collins and Boulder areas may get higher amounts. The foothills of Boulder and Larimer Counties will almost certainly get higher amounts with up to 8 inches around Estes Park, Ward, and Nederland.
In the mountains, most areas are under a Winter Weather Advisory until at least 11 a.m. Thursday. Total snowfall will reach at least 8 inches at most ski areas and some locations in the high country will get much more. Plan on very slick and very slow travel in the mountains through Thursday morning including along I-70, Highway 285, Highway 50, and US 40.