Vacation weekend wrapping up summer time journey season — Colorado Department of Transportation

Denver – The Colorado Department of Transportation is reminding drivers to expect additional traffic in numerous areas of the state due to the many events and recreational activities taking place over the Labor Day weekend.

Beginning at noon on Friday, CDOT is suspending all construction projects to reduce potential traffic delays. The only exception is for emergency operations. Projects can resume their regular schedule on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

Heavier traffic should be anticipated over the holiday weekend along the Front Range, on mountain highways, and most notably on Interstate 70 west of Denver. Traffic on I-70 is at its peak primarily from mid-morning until early evening on Friday, and from early morning to mid-afternoon on Saturday. Eastbound I-70 traffic will be at its highest on Labor Day from mid-morning to late afternoon, especially from Eagle and Summit counties to the Denver area.

Travel through the Eisenhower/Johnson Memorial Tunnels on non-holiday weekends during the summer high travel season – early July through mid-August – averages 44,744 vehicles per day. Labor Day Weekend traffic averages 46,890 vehicles. In 2024, holiday traffic through the EJMT was as follows:

Labor Day Weekend	Westbound	Eastbound	Total
Friday, Aug. 30	31,699	18,802	50,501
Saturday, Aug. 31	28,194	18,152	46,346
Sunday, Sept. 1	20,470	26,038	46,508
Monday, Sept. 2	15,394	28,813	44,207
Total	95,757	91,805	187,562

The mountain express lanes will be operating Friday through Monday – westbound from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and eastbound from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. However, the hours of operation may be modified due to traffic conditions.

Two of the state’s seasonal roadways – CO 82 over Independence Pass between Twin Lakes and Aspen and Trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mountain National Park – remain open through the fall until adverse weather requires a full closure for the winter. The highway to the top of Mount Blue Sky – CO 5 – remains closed for construction. Please visit the Federal Highway Administration webpage for extra info.

Drivers can get the most recent info on the standing of the state’s roadways by checking cotrip.org or by calling 511. Specific info relating to I-70 is offered at: GoI70.com.

Bustang, Bustang Outrider and Pegasus, CDOT’s transit system, offers an alternate for individuals who would moderately not drive. It presents service to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, and the cities and cities between Denver and Grand Junction and between Fort Collins and Trinidad. Outrider is an possibility for journey to different rural areas of the state. And Pegasus shuttle vans serve the I-70 west hall between Denver and Avon. Please go to: ridebustang.com.

CDOT Safety Patrol autos can be found to help motorists in want and to maintain site visitors flowing over Labor Day weekend. The protection space contains main highways within the Denver space and I-25 north of Denver to Fort Collins and south of Denver to Colorado Springs. Peak patrol instances are 6 to 9:30 a.m. and a pair of:30 to 7 p.m., Off-Peak patrol instances are 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Weekend Patrol is 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Know Before You Go

Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather details about climate forecasts and anticipated journey impacts and present highway circumstances previous to hitting the highway. CDOT assets embrace:

Remember: Slow For The Cone Zone

The following suggestions are that will help you keep protected whereas touring by upkeep and building work zones.

• Do not pace in work zones. Obey the posted pace limits.
• Stay Alert! Expect the sudden.
• Watch for employees. Drive with warning.
• Don’t change lanes unnecessarily.
• Avoid utilizing cellular units equivalent to telephones whereas driving in work zones.
• Turn on headlights in order that employees and different drivers can see you.
• Be particularly alert at night time whereas driving in work zones.
• Expect delays, particularly throughout peak journey instances.
• Allow ample area between you and the automobile in entrance of you.
• Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to take action.
• Be affected person!

Download the COtrip App!

The new free COtrip Planner cellular app was designed to satisfy the rising development of knowledge on cellular and pill units for the touring public. The COtrip Planner app offers statewide, real-time site visitors info, and works on cellular units that function on the iOS and Android platforms. Visit the Google Play Store (Android units) or the Apple Store (iOS units) to obtain!