A number of highways around Colorado were closed for hours Friday because of bad weather conditions and multiple accidents.
Friday evening, only one closure remains in effect. U.S. 6 at Loveland Pass has been closed since 8 a.m. because of dangerous conditions and avalanche potential, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
Around 4:30 p.m., CDOT also announced a 20-mile closure of Highway 50 near Monarch Pass, stretching from milemarker 190 to 210, but the scene was cleared within a half-hour.
A number of additional closures took place earlier in the day. The largest was Interstate 70 in both directions from Limon to E-470 in Aurora, where occurred at 8:30 a.m. Eastbound lanes reopened to traffic shortly after noon but closed again at 12:30 after another wreck.
At roughly 2 p.m. the highway reopened in both directions, although CDOT warned of delays.
Closures began around 6:30 a.m. Friday, when CDOT reported that eastbound I-70 was closed from Silverthorne to the Eisenhower Tunnel (milemarkers 205-213) because of accidents. Traffic remained stopped until 11:40 a.m.
Around 9 a.m., CDOT also reported the westbound lanes of I-70 were closed from C-470 to Genesee (milemarkers 259-254). Two hours later, the closure extended farther westward to Beaver Brook (exit 248). Around 1:20 p.m., the entire section reopened to traffic.
“As for traveling into the mountains, we’re discouraging people to do so,” Wilfong said. “You need to have chains or snow tires to do so, but even then I would recommend people avoid the area. We’re having trouble plowing the road because there are so many crashes we can’t get around. When cars are completely stopped, we can’t plow.”
Earlier in the day, Colorado Highway 119 was closed from U.S. 6 to Black Hawk for an hour and a half. The westbound lanes of I-70 were closed for an hour at Georgetown as well.
From 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., U.S. 287 was closed from Ted’s Place (exit 356) to Wyoming due to blizzard conditions.
As the spring snowstorm continues, drivers should expect slow speeds, heavy traffic, icy and snow-packed roads and poor visibility.
Stay with The Denver Post for the latest on road closures Friday as a spring snowstorm continues to pound the state.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or twitter.com/JesseAPaul
