Predictions of heavy traffic on eastbound Interstate 70 prompted the Colorado Department of Transportation to cancel the use of police pace cars to control returning ski traffic today.
The traffic-control technique, known as “speed harmonization” or “pacing,” was scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Silverthorne to Floyd Hill, according to a news release from CDOT.
The Colorado State Patrol will still manually operate ramp meters at U.S. 6 and U.S. 40 during peak hours.
Drivers should expect heavy delays between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Pacing was designed to help mitigate heavy traffic along the I-70 mountain corridor by reducing congestion and accidents.
During pacing, police cars with flashing lights travel along I-70 and try to set the speed for the vehicles behind them.
CDOT will cancel pacing if heavy traffic causes speeds along I-70 to drop below 30 mph.
The program was officially launched in December.
