The Colorado Department of Transportation is reminding drivers to expect additional traffic in many areas of the state for the Memorial Day weekend as the summer travel season gets underway.
Heavy traffic is anticipated along the Front Range and mountain highways, especially on westbound Interstate 70 and eastbound I-70 from Eagle County to the Denver area over the Memorial Day weekend.
To help improve traffic flow, CDOT is suspending all construction and maintenance projects from noon Friday until Tuesday, May 30th. The only exception is for emergency operations.
Seasonal Roads Scheduled Openings
Colorado 5 – the Mount Evans Highway: Friday, May 26th.
Colorado 82 – Independence Pass between Twin Lakes and Aspen: Thursday, May 25th
Trail Ridge Road (US 34) between Estes Park and Grand Lake (Rocky Mountain National Park) – Current road status: 970-586-1222.
Guanella Pass between Georgetown and Grand – Friday, May 26th
Kebler & Cottonwood passes – check gunnisoncounty.org/158/Roads-Bridges
Please visit cotrip.org, the mobile-friendly go-to resource for information about traffic, highway conditions, construction and Colorado’s Scenic and Historic Byways. For specific information about the I-70 Corridor west of Denver, please check GoI70.com.
Be safe – Be Prepared For Late Spring Driving Conditions
Watch for potholes.
Winter’s freeze/thaw cycle weather can damage roadways, including the creation of potholes. Spring rain also can make them difficult to see. And they can damage your vehicle, requiring expensive repairs. Keep a safe following distance in case the driver in front of you reacts unpredictably. Avoid swerving if you can to avoid a pothole.
Slow down for spring showers.
Roads become slick when it first begins to rain because rainwater mixes with road contaminants, like as oil and grease. Increase your following distance to allow for proper braking.
Watch for pedestrians and bikes.
Warmer temperatures mean more people are outside walking or bicycling. Slow down and pay extra attention at crosswalks and along roadways.
Share the road with motorcycles.
Motorcycles may quickly come in and out of your blind spots due to their speed and size. Always take a second look with more motorcycles out on the road.
Animals are on the move.
Animal activity increases during the spring, either due to mating season or because they are waking up from winter hibernation. Deer are most active at dawn and dusk.
Maintain proper tire air pressure.
Tires lose air due to the cold winter temperatures and now can be underinflated. Warmer temperatures can cause tires to be overinflated.
Inspect your tires.
Adequate tire tread is important for safe driving in wet weather because the tread moves water away from the tire. Less tread means reduced traction.
