A driver says a giant pothole near the summit of Vail Pass blew out both right-side tires, leaving them stranded and needing a tow to Frisco, and the Colorado Department of Transportation is urging other motorists to speak up when they hit similar trouble so maintenance crews can be dispatched. The back-and-forth, a CDOT reply on X, landed on Thursday and quickly pulled in more posts from travelers about rough and potentially dangerous pavement on I-70. The incident is one more reminder of how quickly winter-damaged mountain roads can turn into costly, high-country hazards.
What CDOT Said And How To Report
In its reply to the motorist on X, the Colorado Department of Transportation pointed drivers to its online customer-service portal and told them to select the "Highway Maintenance" category so reports are routed straight to road crews, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. CDOT's contact page lists regional phone numbers and walks users through how to submit maintenance requests through the portal, a system the agency says helps it prioritize life-safety concerns and long-term roadway preservation issues, per the Colorado Department of Transportation.
How To File A Damage Claim
For drivers who think a state highway left them with a repair bill, the State Office of Risk Management handles liability claims, and motorists generally have to send a New Claim Form to the Attorney General's Office within 182 days, according to Denver7. Local reporting also shows Colorado receives hundreds of pothole-related claims but pays out on very few of them, underscoring how tough it can be to get reimbursed for damage, per KOAA.
Why Potholes Form On Vail Pass
At more than 10,000 feet in elevation, Vail Pass sits in a brutal environment for pavement, where frequent freeze-thaw cycles combine with heavy I-70 traffic to chew up the road. CDOT explains that when water seeps into cracks and repeatedly freezes, it expands and weakens the pavement structure, which eventually breaks apart into potholes, per the Colorado Department of Transportation. Crews patch those holes throughout the season, but many repairs are short-term fixes until more extensive resurfacing can be scheduled.
Local Context And The Bigger Picture
CDOT and its contractors have been doing crack sealing and resurfacing on stretches of I-70 around Vail Pass, and the agency recently reopened a rebuilt rest area on the pass to give maintenance teams better staging space, as reported by CBS Colorado. Even with those upgrades, short construction seasons in the high country and relentless winter weather mean crews can still find themselves scrambling to keep up with new damage right when traffic is heaviest.
What Drivers Should Do
If you hit a pothole, note the nearest mile marker or exit, take photos of the road and any damage to your vehicle, and file a report through CDOT's customer-service portal so maintenance crews know exactly where to look. Hang on to repair invoices and other records, and consider submitting a claim to the State Office of Risk Management if you believe a defect on a state highway caused the damage. Denver7 outlines the steps to start the claims process.
Legal Note
State law sets strict deadlines for filing and limits on how much you can recover, and an investigation by KOAA found that of more than 1,300 pothole-related claims submitted since 2022, Colorado paid only five. It is a sobering statistic that highlights why documenting damage thoroughly and reporting quickly is crucial if you think a state highway issue caused your loss.
