Drivers on Interstate 70 on Vail Pass should expect delays due to ongoing construction on the west side of the pass from the East Vail Interchange to the Vail Pass Rest Area at the summit beginning April 28, said the Colorado Department of Transportation in a news release.

In early May, traffic will be shifted onto temporary pavement in a two-lane, barrier-separated, head-to-head configuration in the current westbound lanes. This shift will make room for the significant wall work and roadway widening needed for the eastbound auxiliary lanes.

Motorists should anticipate delays through the project area through September.

• Beginning in May, there will be daily single-lane closures along eastbound and westbound I-70 from MP 185 to 190.

• From early to mid-June, rock-scaling activities will require traffic holds Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day.

• From mid-June to early September, intermittent traffic holds will occur one or two days a week while helicopters lift avalanche mitigation materials into place.

• The traffic holds will last for about 20 minutes in both directions, but delays could be longer as the queues are cleared.

Work will continue until November and will be suspended for the 2025/2026 winter season.

This summer planned work includes continued construction of the eastbound I-70 bridge, roadway widening for the eastbound auxiliary lane, installing wildlife fencing and crossings, rock scaling to remove loose rock above the roadway and installation of avalanche prevention fencing.

Construction continues on the eastbound bridge at the western end of the pass, near East Vail. Last year the bridge foundations and piers were completed. This season crews will set girders and build the bridge deck to complete the bridge. The new westbound bridge was completed in 2023.

Avalanche prevention fencing to stabilize snowpack and catch smaller, initial snowslide movements will allow CDOT and the Colorado Avalanche Information Center to safely monitor and manage a known avalanche slide path and help prevent extended interstate closures.

Avalanche fence installation work will require 20-minute traffic holds of I-70 in both directions and for the Vail Pass Recreation Path. Traffic holds will happen Monday through Thursday between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. beginning in early June.

Work continues on five wildlife underpasses. Two for large animals and three for small to medium-sized animals are being built under I-70. High deer fencing is being installed to prevent wildlife-vehicle collisions.

The Vail Pass Recreation Path will remain open and accessible to riders and trail users this season. Intermittent closures of the path may be required for recreationist safety.

CDOT announced that the project, started in 2021, is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

Starting this summer, CDOT will offer a text alert notification service to notify motorists of expected impacts. I-70 Mountain Corridor travelers are encouraged to stay updated by texting vailpass (one word) to 21000 to receive regular communication.

CDOT is offering text alerts covering three key areas: the I-70 Floyd Hill Project, the I-70 West Vail Pass Auxiliary Lanes Project and the I-70 Mountain Express Lanes. Motorists can sign up to receive real-time push-updates on traffic holds and Express Lane availability.

For additional information about this project, contact the project team.

• Call the project information line at (970) 688-8233

• Email the project team at: [email protected]

• Sign up for text alerts: Text vailpass (one word) to 21000

• Visit the project website at: codot.gov/projects/i70westvailauxiliarylanes/construction

• Sign up for weekly project updates: subscription.cotrip.org

The free COtrip Planner app provides statewide, real-time traffic information, and works on mobile devices that operate on the iOS and Android platforms. Visit the Google Play Store (Android devices) or the Apple Store (iOS devices) to download.