Update (4:30 p.m.)- From Mindy Crane of CDOT:
"Eastbound I-70 is now open between Silverthorne and Denver, but it remains closed between Silverthorne and Vail. We expect this small section of eastbound I-70 to reopen shortly...US 6 over Loveland Pass will remain closed overnight... westbound I-70 is completely open from Denver to Vail. Also, both directions of US 40 over Berthoud Pass are open."
Update (2:35 p.m.)- I-70 Westbound from Copper to Vail has reopened.
It's no dream. It has been absolutely dumping snow for the past 2 days. Vail has recieved 10 inches in the last 24 hours alone. Whiteout conditions abound, and while that may be great for the mountain, it's not so good for the roads. I-70 closed a massive stretch (about 75 miles) yesterday at 5 p.m. and it looks like the Vail's main lifeline could stay closed another evening. Mindy Crane of the Colorado Dept. of Transportation sends along the latest news:
"We do not have any new information at this time as to when I-70, Berthoud Pass and Loveland Pass will reopen. We are still receiving sustained winds of 50 mph and gusts up to 70 mph. The worst conditions exist east of the Eisenhower Tunnel. Conditions are improving towards Vail and on the west side of the Eisenhower Tunnel; however, conditions are not safe for travel along the corridor. Weather conditions will need to greatly improve and avalanche control will need to be completed before I-70 reopens (some mitigation has been completed already). CDOT asks motorists to be patient and is encouraging them not to wait out the closure. In addition, US 285 is currently open, but travel is not recommended along this route either as conditions are not much better."
Missed flights certainly can be frustrating but safety has to be the number one priority, and CDOT is looking out for all of us. And if the worst case scenariois that you have to spend an extra day in Vail, well, that's not all too bad, right? We certainly love your company and would love to ring in the New Year with you. The more the merrier!
Keep an eye on the Plum ticker for the latest updates on road closures.
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