Delays on Saturday for motorists heading west on Interstate 70 into the high country are mounting, transportation officials say.
By noon, the Colorado Department of Transportation was warning travelers to expect to spend an extra hour traveling from C-470 to the Eisenhower Tunnel. That was up from a 45-minute delay reported earlier in the day.
upd – Heavy Traffic up to 60 min. extra travel time from Denver/C-470 to Eisenhower Tunnel,MM 259-215
— Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) (@ColoradoDOT)
Cheap gas prices as revelers pursue a last blast of summer fun before autumn weather begins.
About 55 percent of Americans say they’re more likely to take a road trip this year because of lower gas prices, according to a survey by AAA.
Prices have edged up eight cents a gallon in the month before Labor Day, but Tuesday’s average price of $2.22 per gallon is still 27 cents less than last year at this time, according to AAA.
Westbound I70 holiday travelers are bumper-to-bumper @ Floyd Hill. Beautiful day to travel! Stay focused & be safe!
— Colorado State Patrol (@CSP_News)
“It will be a heavy travel weekend,” said Amy Ford, spokeswoman for the Colorado Department of Transportation.
More than 35,000 cars are expected to pass through the Eisenhower Tunnel each day over the weekend. The heaviest traffic is expected Thursday night and Friday as drivers get out of town and Sunday night and Monday as drivers head home, she said.
