The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is advising drivers to prepare for significant traffic along the Interstate 70 Mountain Corridor and US Highway 285 this coming weekend, as many people are expected to travel to view fall foliage. CDOT anticipates heavy congestion both eastbound and westbound on I-70, with additional slowdowns likely on US 285 between South Park and Denver, especially near Kenosha Pass.
According to data from the same weekend in 2024, the Eisenhower Johnson Memorial Tunnels experienced some of the highest traffic volumes of the fall season. To manage safety, CDOT implemented metering at the tunnels for more than eleven hours, from late morning until late evening. Peak vehicle counts reached nearly 3,000 per hour at noon. Eastbound travelers returning home faced delays extending well past 10 p.m.
Unusually high westbound delays were also reported last year between Evergreen and Georgetown from mid-morning through early evening. This was attributed to a large number of day-trippers heading into the mountains for leaf viewing.
Guanella Pass also saw extensive backups, with traffic queues stretching for miles through Georgetown and onto the interstate.
During last weekend’s period from September 19 through September 21, Friday’s traffic peaked at 6 p.m., but speeds at Floyd Hill dropped to single digits from midday into the evening. On Saturday, peak travel occurred between late morning and mid-afternoon. Sunday saw slow conditions most of the day with a peak around late morning.
“Drivers should expect similar conditions this weekend,” CDOT stated.
