Denver (KDVR) – Interstate 70 is one of the main roads you need to reach and from the mountain, but in winter it is also known for prolonged delays in traffic and closing time and catastrophes.
Between October 2023 and April 2024, over seven million drivers passed through the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel, ultimately leaving the roadway with hundreds of crashes, which led to the I-70 closed for more than 200 hours During the winter season.
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When the I-70 has delays or shuts down, you will not be stuck in the mountains or you cannot ski for the day. There are two deviations to move around Eisenhower-Johnson tunnels, which often have a slowdown and closure of safety in winter, but not the use of one of the main roads in and outside the mountain will cost you some time.
Around the I-70, Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnels
Whether it is severe traffic, winter weather, safety closure, or an incident that holds the I-70 near Eisenhower-Johnson tunnels, there are ways to get around it, but deviations can add a few hours to your trip.
285/southern route
This deviation around the I-70 and the tunnel will take about three hours to reach the center of Denver to Vale, eventually adding about an hour or an hour and a half to the trip without traffic.
Here are the routes to circumvent:
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To the west: Get us 6 W to C-470 E. Get us HWY 285 S to FairPlay, Co 9 N to FRISCO and I-70 W to Vail
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East: Continue on I-70 E to Frisco. Take the FairPlay Co 9 S. Get us HWY 285 N to the C-470 W. Get us 6 E on Lincoln Street in Denver.
285/southern route around Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel (Google Maps Couple)
According to FOX31 trafficking analyst Drew Engelbart, the southern route is the best route to avoid the I-70, and this is the route most people use when the lane or tunnel is closed.
Northern routes
There are two other northern routes around Interstate and the tunnel.
If the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnels are closed, but the rest of the I-70 is open, Engelbart said it is one of the best northern routes between the Denver and the Mountains. It adds about an hour to an hour and a half without traffic.
Here are the routes to circumvent:
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To the west: Get I-70 W to Empire Junction with us HWY 40 Get us HWY 40 W to Kremmling, then CO 9 S to Silvertthorne and I-70 W to your destination.
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East: Continue on I-70 E to Silverthorne. Take Co-9 N to Kremmling. Get us HWY 40 E to I-70 E to Lincoln St in Denver.
North Ditour around Eisenhower-Johnson’s Memorial Tunnel (kind to Google Maps
However, this route still continues on the I-70 for a while, and Engelbart said that NO 40 (Berthoud Pass) is known to be very close.
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Another option that avoids the I-70 will head up the steamer. Although it will take a few more hours, it will avoid the interstate and the tunnel in the case of prolonged closure.
Here are the routes to circumvent:
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To the west: Take 287 W from Fort Collins to Ted’s place. Drive from CO-14 W to US 40 E to Kremmling. Take Co-9 S to Silvertthorne and I-70 W to the destination.
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East: Follow the I-70 E to Silvertthorne to a joint 9 N in Kremmling. Get us 40 W to Co-14 E to N Shields ST in Larimer County
North Ditour around the I-70 (Google Maps courtesy)
Whether you head to the mountain or back to Denver, be sure to check the time before leaving, as conditions can change quickly and I-70 often sees the worst of it.
Denver, Meteorological Resources in Colorado
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The point meteorological conditions team will continue to update the forecast repeatedly every day.
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