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Treacherous driving conditions causing multiple highway closures

Motorists urged to avoid travel if possible
Longmont Leader Staff
2024-03-14-cdot-highway-closures
Commercial Motor Vehicle stuck on eastbound I-70 at the Evergreen Parkway exit.Photo supplied

NEWS RELEASE
COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
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STATEWIDE —  Several highways across the Denver metro area and high country are closed due to adverse conditions and crashes. Road conditions vary, but most highways are snowpacked and slushy making driving conditions difficult. 

Keeping the roads open as much as possible will be an all-hands-on-deck effort. CDOT urged drivers to stay off the road when possible during heavy periods of snow and to make sure that vehicles venturing into the snow are equipped for the conditions. For example, numerous instances of jack-knifed semi trucks, many without chains, have led to numerous closures on key thoroughfares like I-70. If travelers must head out, be sure to maintain slower speeds, keep plenty of room between you and the vehicle ahead and use extreme caution. There may be a lull in weather early this morning in the Denver metro area, but motorists should be warned that snow conditions are expected to pick back up later in the morning.   

Below are the closures that are currently in place as of 8:20 a.m.: 

  • I-70 in both directions between Morrison and Silverthorne because of adverse conditions and semi-truck crashes due to lack of chains. 

  • Southbound US 285 just south of C-470 is closed due to a jackknifed semi truck.

  • Highway 119 is closed due to adverse conditions. Power outages have been reported. 

  • US 40 Berthoud Pass and US 6 Loveland Pass are closed due to adverse conditions, avalanche recovery after a natural slide occurred overnight and additional winter operations will be necessary to make sure that the roads are safe to reopen.

  • US 40/I-70 Frontage Road is closed. 

I-25 between Castle Rock and northern Colorado Springs and roads in the Palmer Divide communities are particularly treacherous and have received over 10” of snow, making driving conditions very difficult. The winter storm will continue throughout the day and roads may become worse, especially as more folks take to the roads. The storm is tracking as forecasted. Friday morning ski traffic will be affected. 
 

Pavement Impacts

Front Range Mountains

  • Peak impacts: Wednesday night to Thursday night

  • Winds: Moderate

  • Snowfall Rates: 1”/hour+

  • Pavement Condition: Snowpacked/icy

Southwest Colorado

  • Peak impacts: Thursday afternoon to Friday night

  • Winds: Moderate

  • Snowfall Rates: Moderate to heavy

  • Pavement Conditions: Snowpacked/icy and then will turn to slushy/wet

North of the Palmer Divide

  • Peak impacts: Wednesday night to Thursday night

  • Winds: Moderate/gusty

  • Snowfall Rates: 1”/hour+

  • Pavement Conditions: Wet/slushy and then will turn to snowpacked/icy

South of the Palmer Divide

  • Peak Impacts: Early Thursday to Friday morning

  • Winds: Moderate/gusty

  • Rates: Moderate to heavy

  • Pavement Conditions: Wet/slushy and then will turn to snowpacked/icy

Looking for Road Conditions? Go to COtrip!

For real-time updates, motorists should use COtrip.org or the COtrip Planner app for the latest road closures and conditions. CDOT’s social media channels, especially X (formerly Twitter), will not be updated with real-time information. Chain and Traction Laws are in place in the high country and can be seen on these platforms as well.

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