If you're planning to feast your eyes on Colorado's autumnal tapestry this weekend, brace for a barrage of brake lights. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is advising leaf enthusiasts to expect “another busy weekend” of traffic, as the I-70 Mountain Corridor and US Highway 285 get clogged with travelers. For those contemplating a drive to Kenosha Pass, be prepared for "extreme congestion," as reported by CDOT.
Last year's foliage fanfare saw the Eisenhower Johnson Memorial Tunnels throttled with traffic, and CDOT had to meter vehicles for a teeth-grinding 11 and a half hours to maintain some semblance of order, with peak volumes reaching nearly 3,000 vehicles per hour, according to CDOT. And if history is doomed to repeat itself, expect delays westbound in the morning and eastbound into the night as several day-trippers seek the tranquility of the high country only to find themselves gridlocked.
The previous weekend witnessed its own wave of traffic, with the heaviest congestion on Friday evening and periodic slowdowns peppered throughout Saturday and Sunday, as per CDOT. If you're steeling yourself to join the legion of leaf gazers, consider voyaging either early in the morning or late in the day to skip the worst of the motorcade.
