CDOT anticipates heavy holiday traffic on Colorado roads

(Nabeel Syed/Unsplash)

By Steven Bonifazi / NewsBreak Denver

(DENVER, Colo.) The Colorado Department of Transportation urges drivers to be patient and expect heavy traffic across the state through the end of the year as people travel for Christmas and New Year’s Day.

"The holiday season is a busy time for travel, as Coloradans and visitors spend time with family and friends and explore our beautiful great outdoors,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. "During this busy time especially, please drive like lives depend on it. We must all be prepared for weather forecasts and road conditions, and especially mindful of the importance of driving sober in times of festive celebration. Let's end 2021 safely and protect one another as we enter 2022."

CDOT is anticipating traffic on Interstate 70 to be heavy Thursday, Friday and next week, with busier than usual traffic expected on eastbound I-70 on Jan. 1 and 2, specifically between Vail and Denver. Motorists can expect a traffic surge along the Front Range before and after Christmas Day due to shopping areas along the urban corridors, according to a press release from CDOT.

Christmas week traditionally is one of the state’s busiest travel periods. Consequently, CDOT will pause work projects across the state from Dec. 23 through Dec. 26 and from Dec. 30 to Jan. 3.

Drivers planning to travel to Colorado’s ski resorts should expect busy roads. Traffic traditionally is heavy at the Eisenhower/Johnson Memorial Tunnels.

Vehicles counts at the Eisenhower/Johnson Memorial Tunnels for 2019.(Data courtesy of Colorado Department of Transportation)

Vehicles counts at the Eisenhower/Johnson Memorial Tunnels for 2020.(Data courtesy of Colorado Department of Transportation)

For information about road conditions, including receiving updated road and weather information, call 511 or click here. For specific details about I-70, click here.