Frigid winter storm to impact MLK weekend traffic in Colorado’s mountains
Colorado Department of Transportation/Courtesy photo
The Colorado Department of Transportation issued a travel advisory for the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend as a strong winter storm and arctic front are expected to impact the Interstate 70 mountain corridor and the foothills and plains, according to a Thursday news release.
Impacts will begin Friday evening and will last into Saturday morning, with potential impacts lingering into Sunday. Ski traffic along the I-70 mountain corridor is anticipated to face significant delays and hazardous driving conditions from icy patches on roads.
Weekend travel conditions:
A cold front is expected to move in Friday afternoon, with snow developing across the mountains and valleys north of I-70 and expanding southward by evening. As temperatures plummet, any melted snow will quickly freeze into icy patches, impacting travel conditions. The snow could also reduce visibility, with wind speeds expected to decrease later in the evening.
Motorists should expect heavy traffic along I-70 on Friday evening, according to CDOT. The department anticipates a “double peak” traffic pattern and increased congestion after work hours as people head to the mountains for the weekend.
“Motorists are strongly discouraged from traveling overnight on Friday,” the release states.
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Heaviest snowfall rates are expected overnight into early Saturday, with light snow showers and extremely cold temperatures continuing throughout the day, according to the release. The cold temperatures will limit the melting of the snow, keeping roads slick throughout the weekend.
CDOT said it anticipates traffic congestion early Saturday morning, with slowdowns at Floyd Hill and Georgetown. Evening traffic will also be affected by lingering snow showers.
Another pulse of light snow is forecasted for Sunday night, potentially impacting Monday morning traffic. Sunday will see typical ski return traffic, most around midday. CDOT anticipates late morning traffic on Monday due to continuing snow showers and cold temperatures.
CDOT recommends that motorists allow for extra travel time, check road conditions before driving, and reduce speeds when possible.
For information on road conditions, visit COtrip.org. To sign up for CDOT alerts, visit bit.ly/COnewsalerts.
