Colorado road closures: I-70 closed from Denver to near Kansas line

DENVER — A major winter storm is bearing down on the Denver metro area, with an historic storm continuing across Colorado’s eastern plains.

The 9NEWS Weather Impact Team issued a Weather Impact Day on Friday and Saturday for the significant snowstorm.

Highways were closed across the eastern Colorado plains on Friday, including Interstate 70 from Airpark to Burlington.

Hundreds of schools are closed across Colorado on Friday, including some of the largest school districts in the Denver area, such as Denver Public Schools, Aurora, Cherry Creek, Douglas County and Jeffco Public Schools.

> See the full list of closures and delays

These major highways and interstates were closed as of 9 a.m. Friday, according to CDOT: 

• I-70 between E-470 and Burlington
• I-25 southbound from Pueblo to the Colorado/New Mexico state line
• US 40 eastbound/westbound from Limon to Kit Carson
• US 40 westbound from Cheyenne Wells to Kit Carson
• US 160 eastbound/westbound from CO 350 Junction to CO 389 Junction
• US 350 eastbound/westbound from Trinidad to La Junta
• CO 59 northbound/southbound from Haxtun to Kit Carson
• CO 71 northbound/southbound from Last Chance to Punkin Center
• CO 86 eastbound/westbound from Kiowa to I-70
• CO 94 eastbound/westbound from El Paso County line to US 40/287 Junction
• CO 101 both directions between US 50 and Las Animas
• CO 109 northbound/southbound from La Junta to Kim
• CO 389 northbound/southbound from the New Mexico state line to US 160 Junction

> Denver plow tracker
> CDOT plow tracker

CDOT plow crews are in full shift and will be plowing and treating state-maintained roads throughout the storm and afterward as necessary.

Even with plowing, pretreatment and deicing, CDOT said roads are slick, particularly on bridges, overpasses and shady areas. 

If you have to be out, take it slow, keep a safe distance behind the vehicle in front of you, stay well behind plows, do not pass plows and give extra time.

Know before you go and check out COtrip.org for the latest road conditions.

The CDOT urged travelers to be aware of chain and traction law codes before heading out on the roadway:

• Code 18/Commercial Chain Law: Commercial vehicles and trucks must have chains. Vehicles without chains can often lose traction, causing traffic delays and sometimes road closures. For the safety of the traveling public, it’s critical to use chains to comply with Colorado’s chain law.
• Code 15/Passenger Traction Law: All passenger vehicles must have appropriate all-weather tires with 3/16-inch depth. Vehicles must have one of the following: winter tires, tires with mud/snow (M+S) designation, chains or alternative traction devices such as an autosock. 4WD and AWD vehicles must have winter tires or all-weather tires.
• Code 16/Passenger Chain Law: All passenger vehicles need chains, except for 4WD and AWD vehicles with all-weather tires with 3/16-inch tread depth.

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