Millions of skiers drive I-70 every winter to reach Colorado’s popular ski resorts. That journey could become significantly safer—and eventually faster—under a newly approved state transportation plan.
On May 21, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) approved a 10-year, $3oo million plan plan that includes major upgrades to the I-70 Mountain Corridor and other mountain roads across the state. The plan, approved by the 11-member Colorado Transportation Commission, covers more than 250 projects with goals of fixing roads, improving safety, and increasing sustainability.
The 10 Year Plan is part of the broader statewide initiative called “Your Transportation Plan,” which aims to provide a clear, long-term investment strategy for Colorado’s transportation network. Local governments, community organizations, and the public all contributed feedback during the plan’s development.
Various Upgrades Along I-70
I-70 is the lifeblood of Colorado’s ski industry, connecting the Denver metro area to renowned ski resorts including Vail, Breckenridge, and Copper Mountain. The drive from Denver to Vail Pass takes roughly 90 minutes on a weekday, but winter weekends often bring lengthy delays as skiers and snowboarders head for the slopes.
The 10 Year Plan addresses two key sections of the corridor.
The first focuses on the most deteriorated sections of I-70 within Garfield and Eagle Counties, with an emphasis on guardrail replacements and upgrades in the Glenwood Canyon area—one of the most geologically challenging and frequently closed sections of the highway. CDOT has allocated $11 million for these upgrades in the first four years of the plan, with an additional $23 million in the following six.
The second and larger investment targets West Vail Pass, a section that sees some of the heaviest ski traffic in Colorado. Planned upgrades include an additional lane on the uphill portion, a deceleration lane on the downhill portion, runaway truck ramps, a wildlife underpass, and wildlife fencing. This section has $50 million allocated for the first four years and $27 million for the following six, for a total of $77 million—making it the single largest investment in the plan’s mountain corridor work.
I-70’s Issues and Works-in-Progress
The 10 Year Plan does not start from scratch. Over the past decade, CDOT has been steadily working to improve the I-70 corridor for the millions of skiers, snowboarders, and residents who depend on it each year.
The most significant ongoing project is the Floyd Hill improvement, which is adding a new westbound express lane at one of the highway’s most notorious chokepoints. The lane will run eight miles from Floyd Hill before connecting with existing express lanes at the Veterans Memorial Tunnel. It is expected to be completed in 2028.
The new 10 Year Plan builds on that foundation, adding capacity in additional locations and upgrading safety infrastructure along the corridor. Combined with the completion of the Floyd Hill project, the planned improvements could significantly improve safety and traffic flow along one of North America’s busiest ski corridors.
