Snowy roads, ongoing construction on I-70 could slow Thanksgiving travel for some early this week

DENVER – Snowy roads and ongoing construction projects could slow travel through Colorado this holiday week as people hit the roads for Thanksgiving.

For anyone traveling early this week, snow will prove the biggest hamper to travel times. A storm will move through the state beginning Monday morning and lasting through Tuesday morning.

Southern and southwestern Colorado mountain roads could see more than a foot of snow. Molas and Wolf Creek passes had already received more than 5 inches of snow as of noon Monday, and precipitation is expected to fall throughout the day and into the night.

The storm will move in a northeasterly direction and will dump between 5 and 10 inches of snow in the central mountains, meaning I-70 and I-76 could get hazardous beginning Monday afternoon and evening.

Some showers and possible snow showers are expected to move through Denver Monday night into Tuesday morning, and the Eastern Plains could see some snow as well.

Traction and chain laws were already in place in some of the southern mountain passes, but anyone driving through the state should be aware of Colorado’s laws requiring four-wheel or all-wheel drive, snow tires, or chains in certain conditions.

More information on getting your car ready for winter driving can be found here.

ONGOING CONSTRUCTION COULD BRING DELAYS ON I-70

But if you’re headed through Colorado on Wednesday or Thursday, roads and conditions should be much better. Roads are expected to dry out by Wednesday as sunny weather and warmer conditions return for a few days before another storm rolls in next week.

But weather won’t be the only thing slowing traffic early this Thanksgiving travel week.

On I-70 near Empire Junction (mile marker 233), crews will continue rock work on Monday and Tuesday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Some lanes in both directions will be closed for up to 20 minutes at a time, so anyone passing through the area during the day should expect delays.

And just east of there, near the Downieville and Dumont exits (mile markers 234 and 235), there will be daytime lane closures scheduled through Friday, Nov. 25.

More on Colorado road conditions, construction and closures can be found here.

A reminder for truckers: all commercial motor vehicles are required to carry chains while driving on I-70 between Dotsero and Morrison during the fall and winter seasons.