Eastbound Interstate 70 at Floyd Hill will face periodic morning closures from early November through February due to hazardous sun glare conditions, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). The affected stretch runs from Mile Points 244 to 248, just east of Idaho Springs. The first closure will take place as a preparatory traffic hold at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 29, ahead of the official start date for regular closures on Nov. 1.
Closures will be implemented from sunrise until 8:30 a.m., with each event expected to last between 45 and 60 minutes. Drivers may experience delays of up to an hour when closures are in effect.
CDOT and Colorado State Patrol (CSP) personnel stationed near Floyd Hill will decide daily whether conditions require closure. The decision is based on the intensity of sun glare and factors unique to the mountain corridor, such as moisture left on roadways from storms or pre-treatment materials, challenging terrain with steep hills and sharp turns, and unexpected obstacles like wildlife crossing.
According to CDOT, “The sun glare closures at Floyd Hill are implemented for the safety of the traveling public. The decision to close the highway is made daily, on a case-by-case basis, through collaboration between Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and CDOT personnel stationed near Floyd Hill.”
During closures, eastbound I-70 traffic will be rerouted at Exit 244 (US 6), located at the bottom of Floyd Hill. Motorists can continue on US 6 through Clear Creek Canyon or use the eastbound I-70 frontage road (US 40) before rejoining I-70 at Beaver Brook (Exit 248). Truck drivers should note that vehicles taller than 12 feet, seven inches cannot travel through tunnels along US 6 in Clear Creek Canyon due to height restrictions.
CDOT advises early morning travelers during fall and winter months to monitor overhead message boards starting just east of the Eisenhower Johnson Memorial Tunnel for real-time updates about sun glare closures. Travel alerts are also available online at COtrip.org.
“For these reasons, the sun glare safety closures at Floyd Hill are a necessary, unified effort between CSP and CDOT to keep motorists as safe as possible,” CDOT stated.
