Few things in life are certain: death, taxes and horrendous Interstate 70 mountain traffic.
Credit the Colorado Department of Transportation for trying something new — and easy — in an attempt to ease I-70 congestion between Eagle and Denver during high-volume weekend hours.
The “George Washington test” asks motorists to place a quarter upside-down into treads of tires on their vehicles. If the top of Washington’s head is covered, your radials are OK and roadworthy. If not, you should forgo the trip.
With a lack of a surefire fix to I-70’s ever-maddening traffic woes, CDOT should be lauded for being creative.
Traffic accidents, not traffic volume, account for as much as 60 percent of the delays on I-70, says the Colorado State Patrol.
So the quarter test, more snowplows and personnel, beefed-up chain enforcement and reminders to those in minor accidents to move off the road should help.
Next year, CDOT debuts its 13-mile express eastbound shoulder lane and will complete expansion of the westbound Twin Tunnel.
Peak driving on I-70 likely will never be a breeze. But these are useful ways to find relief for one of life’s aggravating certainties.
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