Ski areas have put together specials to let people know they are open for business today in response to the closure of a portion of Interstate 70 through the mountains for rock removal.
From 7 to 10 a.m., Loveland Ski Area will serve up a free pancake breakfast.
Winter Park Resort will sell $59 lift tickets to people who hold a season ski pass at any other Colorado ski area.
Skiing at Keystone Resort will be extended until 5 p.m. today, and several lodging deals are available at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone for guests “who want to extend their stay during the roadwork and enjoy the record snowfall in the mountains,” said Vail Resorts spokeswoman Kate Lessman.
The I-70 closure may be repeated Wednesday, depending on what Colorado Department of Transportation engineers find.
Work to remove unstable rock — ranging up to 16 feet long and 8 feet wide and high — from Georgetown Hill will shut down to through traffic a 27-mile stretch of I-70 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today from the U.S. 40/Empire exit to the Silverthorne exit.
Local traffic will be allowed from Empire to Georgetown and from Silverthorne to Silver Plume. Motorists still can get to Georgetown from the east and to Loveland from the west.
It’s only the 2-mile stretch from Georgetown to Silver Plume that will be closed to all vehicles.
Two detours are U.S. 40 over Berthoud Pass to Kremmling and then Colorado 9 to Silverthorne, or U.S. 285 to Fairplay and then Colorado 9 over Hoosier Pass to I-70 in Frisco.
