Colorado roads in December.

Thunder Mountain wrote:

4runnerguy wrote:
Day to day, based on the weather. Avoid hitting the section from Silverthorne to Denver after about noon, esp. on the weekends. Can get really backed up with skiers in the afternoon.

Sometimes I-70, I-76, or I-80 across the plains can be worse than the mountains. Ground blizzards can reduce visibility to nil and the blowing snow can polish the snow on the road to a mirror-like sheen.

As usual, what he said. As well as NOAA also check http://www.cotrip.org/. Be prepared to sit in Grand Junction for a day. Sometimes when the weather is bad you can leave Grand Junction around 9 or 10 am and make a run over the Continental Divide in the "heat" of the day after CDOT and traffic have taken of a recent snow. Just don't push it. You can end up spending hours stuck in a line of traffic going nowhere or worse in ditch.

sums it up pretty well - when in doubt CDOT CAMERAS are worth the time just to be sure.

Weekends and Skiers are a given so timing is just soooo smart.

BOL, and let us know how you did.

If you have the time, plan on delaying your departure a few days until you can get out of the mountains while the roads are clear.

If you are on a tight schedule, you had better have chains and know how to use them.

Another thing to be aware of is the 13 mile shoulder express lane that runs EB I-70 from Empire through Idaho Springs, significantly improving traffic flow in that area. Last year it opened in mid-December, so presumably that will happen again this year. I've not heard/read of any plans to NOT use it again this season. It can be open a maximum of 73 days per year, and in 2015 it was open 32 days.

H E R E is more info on the express lane. At the bottom of the screen is a weekly update, which presumably WILL be updated when the lane is activated.

Be aware that there is a Traction Law and Passenger Vehicle Chain Law for I70 between Denver and Vail. If conditions become bad CDOT can implement one or the other. The Traction requires minimum tire tread, 4wd or AWD. Chain Law is just that, chains required on passenger vehicles. If you ignore and get stuck and tie up traffic there are fines up to $650.

4runnerguy wrote:
Day to day, based on the weather. Avoid hitting the section from Silverthorne to Denver after about noon, esp. on the weekends. Can get really backed up with skiers in the afternoon.

Sometimes I-70, I-76, or I-80 across the plains can be worse than the mountains. Ground blizzards can reduce visibility to nil and the blowing snow can polish the snow on the road to a mirror-like sheen.

As usual, what he said. As well as NOAA also check http://www.cotrip.org/. Be prepared to sit in Grand Junction for a day. Sometimes when the weather is bad you can leave Grand Junction around 9 or 10 am and make a run over the Continental Divide in the "heat" of the day after CDOT and traffic have taken of a recent snow. Just don't push it. You can end up spending hours stuck in a line of traffic going nowhere or worse in ditch.

Day to day, based on the weather. Avoid hitting the section from Silverthorne to Denver after about noon, esp. on the weekends. Can get really backed up with skiers in the afternoon.

Sometimes I-70, I-76, or I-80 across the plains can be worse than the mountains. Ground blizzards can reduce visibility to nil and the blowing snow can polish the snow on the road to a mirror-like sheen.