DENVER — There's no way around it: Traffic will be heavy along I-70 in the mountains this weekend, with or without bad weather.
Presidents' Day makes for one of the busiest travel weekends along I-70, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation, and that's likely to be the case again this year, as warmer temps are expected Saturday before wintry conditions return Sunday. Snow is expected to develop in the mountains on Sunday and continue into Monday.
The heaviest traffic on I-70 is expected Friday afternoon and into the evening, and also on Saturday morning. CDOT said the I-70 Mountain Express Lane between Empire and the Veterans Memorial Tunnels will be open Saturday, Sunday and Monday, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., to help ease congestion. Drivers can take the express lane for a toll.
Here's a look at last year's traffic counts through the Eisenhower/Johnson Memorial Tunnels.
Friday, Feb. 15
Westbound: 31,663
Eastbound: 19,023
Total: 50,686
Saturday, Feb. 16
Westbound: 21,213
Eastbound: 17,981
Total: 39,194
Sunday, Feb. 17
Westbound: 18,225
Eastbound: 25,323
Total: 43,548
Monday, Feb. 18
Westbound: 15,410
Eastbound: 25,346
Total: 40,756
Weekend total: 174,164