Statewide travel expected to surge, especially on I-70 Mountain Corridor Statewide –

The Colorado Department of Transportation is encouraging motorists to plan ahead and prepare for heavy traffic as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches. Drivers should anticipate additional traffic on the roadways over the next few days as people travel for Thanksgiving weekend and holiday shopping. While the forecast is still not certain for the weekend, motorists should be prepared for potential winter weather as they head home over the weekend. Weather can change in an instant at higher elevations, motorists are urged to be prepared.    To minimize traffic impacts, daily lane closures on state construction and maintenance projects will be suspended by midday Wednesday, Nov. 26. The only exception is for emergency operations. All projects can resume work on Monday, Dec. 1.Traffic volumes on the I-70 Mountain Corridor are expected to increase beginning Wednesday morning around 8 a.m., with the heaviest travel Friday through Sunday, beginning around 8 a.m. and continuing to 6 p.m.

For those wanting to travel and forget about traffic, CDOT’s Bustang, Snowstang and Pegasus offer reliable, comfortable alternatives to navigating heavy traffic and mountain congestion. These services provide direct connections to major Front Range cities, mountain resorts and key destinations along the I-70 Mountain Corridor, helping reduce delays, improve safety and ease parking pressures at popular holiday spots. Please go to www.ridebustang.com for more information. Traffic at the Eisenhower/Johnson Memorial Tunnels tends to be lower during Thanksgiving weekend than other fall and winter holiday weekends. Vehicle numbers in 2024:  



Tips for safe holiday and winter travel CDOT urges all travelers to: Check road conditions at COtrip.org or via the COtrip Planner app. Travelers can also call 511. Keep your gas tank full and ensure you have enough windshield wiper fluid.Pack an emergency kit (water, blankets, scraper, snacks, chargers, games or activities for bored backseat passengers)Slow down, increase following distance and stay alertPull over and rest or switch drivers if you start to feel drowsyNever drive impaired or distractedAvoid passing plows on the right.New – Your One-Stop Hub for I-70 Mountain Travel: codot.gov/i70mountainIn time for the winter ski season, CDOT has launched a brand-new online hub specifically for the I-70 Mountain Corridor, offering everything you need for smooth, safe travel. From shuttle options and real-time road conditions to live corridor cams and essential safety tips and laws, it’s all in one convenient place. This easy-to-use resource brings together the best tools from COtrip.org and the COtrip Planner app into a single, centralized hub. Remember: the road is different here, and your travel plans should be too. The I-70 Mountain Corridor is a mountain road — motorists need to be mountain ready.The CDOT Safety Patrol will be assisting motorists in need during Thanksgiving weekend. Coverage areas include major highways in Denver and I-25 in Fort Collins and Colorado Springs from 6 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Off-Peak hours are 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends. Drivers are reminded to slow down and move over, if possible, when approaching the Safety Patrol or other first responders on the roadside. More information on the Safety Patrol, which is sponsored by GEICO, can be found at SafetyPatrolinfo.com and the CDOT website. 
Know Before You GoTravelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts and anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:Road conditions and travel information: COtrip.org Download the COtrip Planner app: bit.ly/COtripappSign up for project or travel alerts: bit.ly/COnewsalertsSee scheduled construction lane closures: bit.ly/laneclosuresConnect with @ColoradoDOT on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.Download the COtrip App!The free COtrip Planner mobile app was designed to meet the growing trend of information on mobile and tablet devices for the traveling public. The COtrip Planner app provides statewide, real-time traffic information, and works on mobile devices that operate on the iOS and Android platforms. Visit the Google Play Store (Android devices) or theApple Store (iOS devices) to download!About CDOTThe Colorado Department of Transportation’s mission is to provide the best multi-modal transportation system that most effectively and safely moves people, goods and information. CDOT maintains more than 23,000 lane miles of highway, more than 3,400 bridges and 35 mountain passes. Our team of employees works tirelessly to reduce the rate and severity of crashes and improve the safety of all modes of transportation. CDOT leverages partnerships with a range of private and public organizations and operates Bustang, an interregional express bus service. Find more details at codot.gov.