Colorado road closures: Eastbound I-70, southbound I-25 reopen after crashes

DENVER — Two crashes caused major traffic impacts on Interstate 25 and Interstate 70 Sunday morning after a historic, major winter storm that hit the Denver metro area and continued across Colorado’s Eastern Plains this week.

Most highways reopened across the Eastern Plains on Saturday, including Interstate 70, which was shut down Friday night due to the snow.

However, eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 closed again Sunday morning due to a crash reported at 3:44 a.m. between Exit 306: Bennett Rest Area and Exit 310: I-70 Business North (Strasburg) at Mile Point 310. Colorado State Patrol said the crash was fatal, but didn’t immediately have any additional information.

Eastbound lanes reopened around 10 a.m. Sunday.

Another crash reported at 5:48 a.m. closed I-25 southbound from Castle Pines Parkway to Castle Rock Parkway, due to a crash. CSP said the crash possibly involved up to three overturned semi trucks and another vehicle. There was no immediate information on injuries, but CSP said no one was transported to the hospital. Traffic was being diverted to Happy Canyon Road.

Around 9 a.m., CDOT cameras showed southbound lanes were back open.

These major highways were closed as of 7 a.m. Saturday, according to CDOT: 

• CO 101 northbound and southbound, Between US 50; Carson Avenue and County Road 14 (Las Animas) from Mile Point 0 to Mile Point 21. Road closed  due to safety concerns.
• CO 94 Eastbound/Westbound to Near Rush to US 287 Junction

> Denver plow tracker
> CDOT plow tracker

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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