Strong winds with gusts up to 80 miles per hour have led to several highway closures in Boulder County and the surrounding foothills. The closures, which affect both directions of CO 93 from 64th Avenue in Arvada to CO 170, CO 72 from CO 7 to Ward Road, US 36 from Boulder to Lyons, and CO 128 from CO 93 to McCaslin Boulevard, are in response to unsafe travel conditions—especially for high-profile vehicles.
Officials warn that more highway closures could be implemented if wind conditions worsen. Drivers are advised to check road status on the COtrip.org website or use the COtrip Planner app before starting their journeys.
In addition to road closures, ongoing high winds may cause traffic signal outages. Motorists encountering intersections without working signals are reminded they must treat these as four-way stops.
The strong winds also raise concerns about wildfire risk. “Today’s conditions are creating a particularly dangerous situation for potential rapid wildfire spread in the areas most impacted by the wind, therefore, proper disposal of cigarette butts and securing trailer chains to prevent sparks is mandatory,” officials stated.
Motorists should expect sudden changes in travel conditions and consider delaying non-essential trips until weather improves.
