The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is advising drivers to prepare for increased traffic and possible winter weather as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches. CDOT expects more vehicles on the roads over the next several days due to holiday travel and shopping.
To help reduce congestion, CDOT will suspend daily lane closures on state construction and maintenance projects by midday Wednesday, Nov. 26. Emergency operations are the only exception. Work on these projects will resume Monday, Dec. 1.
Traffic volumes are expected to rise on the I-70 Mountain Corridor starting Wednesday morning at 8 a.m., with peak travel periods from Friday through Sunday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
For those looking to avoid driving in heavy traffic, CDOT recommends using Bustang, Snowstang, and Pegasus services. These transit options connect major Front Range cities with mountain resorts and key destinations along I-70, helping to ease congestion and parking challenges at popular locations. More information can be found at ridebustang.com.
According to CDOT data from 2024, vehicle counts at the Eisenhower/Johnson Memorial Tunnels during Thanksgiving weekend were lower than other fall and winter holidays. Over five days, total vehicle numbers reached 190,218.
CDOT has also introduced a new online hub for travelers on the I-70 Mountain Corridor ahead of the winter ski season. The site provides shuttle information, real-time road conditions, live cameras, safety tips, and laws in one place by combining resources from COtrip.org and the COtrip Planner app.
“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,” stated CDOT.
