The March 14 snowstorm is easily the biggest of 2024 so far, bringing with it power outages and school closures. Front Range ski resorts have reported up to 15 inches of snow in the last 24 hours. For those lucky enough to be past the Interstate 70 mountain corridor, the next few days could be the best skiing of the season. But those who planned to head up Thursday morning faced hours of traffic.
“Treacherous driving conditions have led to multiple closures with more to come Thursday (3/14/24). Motorists urged to avoid travel if possible,” read a tweet from the Colorado Department of Transportation, or CDOT, at approximately 9 a.m. March 14.
Gridlock on I-70 to and from the metro area is notorious regardless of weather during the ski season. But this storm hits at a critical point when students are let out on spring break across the country. Even during the best of weather, what Coloradans call bluebird days—sunny skies, powdery snow and warmer temperatures—traffic can add several extra hours to your day. And it could get worse from here. Colorado’s population is expected to increase by 54% to 8.5 million by 2050. The I-70 Coalition projects this influx could cause travel times on the highway to triple by 2035.
That’s why avid riders and transportation experts recommend planning your trip thoroughly and preparing for an early wake-up. Skier Sailor Sorensen, who often makes the 80-mile trek from Boulder to Copper, said she wakes up at 4:30 a.m.
“When going to Copper, I experienced an additional three hours of traffic, even when we left Boulder at 6 a.m. This whole trip to get to the slopes took four-and-a-half hours,” Sorensen said. “Traffic is often terrible if you don’t leave before the sun is up.”
Those departing their homes a little later in the morning may miss the traffic jams but face a different challenge: parking. As more people pack into the high country, lots fill up fast. Skier Elyse Eisen typically leaves her house around 8 a.m. when she skis at Eldora, missing much of the traffic. But sometimes the lots are nearly full by the time Eisen and her friends pull in due to their late arrival.
“Parking can be tricky, but so far I’ve just been really lucky with it,” Eisen said. She is often lucky with parking because she arrives right as the lifts open at 8:30 a.m. on the weekends.
But many haven’t been as fortunate. In the past, Eldora has been forced to tell hopeful riders to turn back due to parking lots reaching capacity. Other resorts like Arapahoe Basin have also had to turn away slope-seekers. Parking challenges are now prompting some mountains to charge and require advanced reservations as Colorado’s 27 lift-served ski areas saw a record 14.8 million visitors during the 2022-23 season.
Resorts are also pleading with riders to carpool, a call echoed by Summit County planners and CDOT to not only alleviate parking woes but make the trip up a little quicker. In addition, dozens of individuals, businesses, resorts and local governments banded together to form the I-70 Coalition. The group hopes to enhance public accessibility and mobility in the Central Mountain Corridor and has several projects planned to expand the highway, including the Floyd Hill and Express Lane Projects. Both intend to alleviate traffic by adding a third travel lane. CDOT also recently installed variable speed limit signs, or VSLs, to adjust the speed limit along the highway based on traffic congestion.
“The key purpose behind the new signs is to improve safety on the I-70 mountain corridor,” said Jessica Myklebust, director of CDOT’s Region 1, in a press release. “VSLs react to real-time congestion and incidents on the corridor, reducing speeds to a reasonable limit when needed. This helps to prevent crashes and ‘stop and go’ traffic.”
Traffic along I-70 has been an inside joke among Coloradans on the Front Range for decades. The Instagram account I-70 Things has over 430,000 followers and posts follower-generated content showing stand-still traffic and folks taking part in the new competitive sport of parking. TikTokers make fun of travelers spending hours in traffic to “ski for 15 minutes.” But what can those hitting the slopes do to avoid hours of weekend traffic? Aside from carpooling, CDOT has a few suggestions.
Travelers can avoid traffic spots using CDOT’s app Cotrip Planner, which shows road conditions along I-70. Instead of driving, winter recreators can ride the Snowstang bus, which picks up in Denver and drops off at some of the most popular mountain resorts, such as Breckenridge and Loveland Ski Area. The Winter Park Express also continues to run until the end of March. In the meantime, officials say expect slow going and wait until the roads are safe before you head out.
“We urge motorists to stay off the roads, but if you must go out, slow down and give yourself plenty of space between other drivers,” said Colorado State Patrol Chief Col. Matthew C. Packard.