Drivers planning to navigate the I-70 corridor might face substantial delays come Tuesday, as the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will implement a full eastbound closure of the interstate near East Vail at Exit 180, starting from 9 a.m. The vehicle recovery operation necessitates this closure, purportedly to extract wreckage from a prior commercial motor vehicle accident, and is expected to span at least six hours, according to CDOT. Those commuting through this slice of mountain highway will detour, rerouting off at Exit 180 and then journeying east on US 24 to Leadville, followed by a northbound trek on Colorado Highway 91 to reconnect with eastbound I-70 at Copper Mountain.
Previous reports from CDOT detail the incident leading to this disruption, outlining a crash that occurred on Wednesday, Jan. 8, around 8 p.m., where a commercial motor vehicle, having traveled westbound, veered into the median and subsequently collided with another CMV and passenger cars in the opposing eastbound lane, importantly because of the ensuing fuel leak from a diesel tank, an immediate hazmat cleanup was crucial, thus postponing vehicle recovery until now. Motorists are advised to factor in an additional 90 minutes to their expected commute time.
With current road conditions and upcoming travel advisories, CDOT urges travelers to be well-informed ahead of their trips. To facilitate this, a suite of resources is available, including the COtrip website. The COtrip Planner app, and options to sign up for project or travel alerts, alongside a social media presence where updates are regularly posted.
