The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is alerting drivers to expect increased traffic throughout the state during the upcoming holiday season. According to CDOT, heavier traffic is likely along the Front Range before and after Christmas, especially near large shopping areas located on or close to urban corridors.
“Wherever your travels take you, plan to drive sober, take it slow, and give yourself plenty of time to arrive safely,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “We ask every driver to respect the road and each other so we can all enjoy the holiday season.”
To help ease congestion, CDOT will suspend construction projects statewide by noon on Wednesday, Dec. 24, and Wednesday, Dec. 31. No construction work is planned for Thursday, Dec. 25 or Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. Additionally, there will be no lane closures on the I-70 Floyd Hill project from Saturday, Dec. 20 until Monday, Jan. 5.
Motorists are encouraged to check COtrip.org or use the COtrip Planner app for real-time travel alerts and specific project information. Project details are also available at codot.gov/projects.
Heavy traffic is also expected along the I-70 Mountain Corridor between Denver and Eagle County in the week following Christmas due to an increase in recreational travel during this period.
For those traveling westbound on I-70 between Friday, Dec. 19 and Sunday, Jan. 4, peak hours are from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., while eastbound travelers should expect higher volumes from Friday, Dec. 19 through Monday, Jan. 5 between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Travelers seeking alternatives can use CDOT’s Snowstang bus service during holiday weekends for roundtrip express routes to Arapahoe Basin, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain and Loveland Ski Area; more information is available at ridebustang.com.
CDOT has launched a new online hub dedicated to travel along the I-70 Mountain Corridor that consolidates shuttle options, real-time road conditions and safety tips into one resource at codot.gov/travel/i70mountain.
The CDOT Safety Patrol will continue assisting motorists across major highways in Denver as well as I-25 in Fort Collins and Colorado Springs with coverage during peak hours from early morning through evening on weekdays and weekends alike; further details can be found at SafetyPatrolinfo.com.
