Dowd Junction I-70 traffic stops for rock work start Monday

The Colorado Department of Transportation will intermittently stop traffic on eastbound and westbound Interstate 70 through Dowd Canyon (mile 171 – 173) next week for rock mitigation operations. Dowd Canyon is between the west end of Vail and the junction of U.S. 6 & 24 (Dowd Junction).

Beginning on Monday, July 15, and continuing through Thursday, July 18, traffic will be stopped for approximately 30 minutes between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. The traffic stops will take place once or twice an hour until about 4 p.m. In addition, cyclists and pedestrians also will not be permitted to travel on the bike path through Dowd Canyon while I-70 is closed to traffic.  

The alternate route around Dowd Canyon is State Highway 91 over Fremont Pass and U.S. 24 via Tennessee Pass and Battle Mountain.  

CDOT must stop traffic whenever rock work is taking place above highways to maintain safety for the traveling public.  And, due to safety and visibility requirements, rock work must be performed during daylight hours.  

As part of its Whole System – Whole Safety campaign, CDOT prioritizes the removal or the securing of potential, identified hazards such as loose rocks and boulders.  This operation will provide I-70 drivers with a safety enhancement through an area that can be prone to rockfall.  

Remember to Slow for the Cone Zone
The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones.

• Do not speed in work zones; obey the posted speed limits
• Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected
• Watch for workers; drive with caution
• Don’t change lanes unnecessarily
• Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones
• Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you
• Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones
• Expect delays, especially during peak travel times
• Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you
• Anticipate lane shifts, and merge when directed to do so
• Be Patient!

To heighten safety awareness, CDOT recently announced its Whole System – Whole Safety initiative. This project takes a systematic statewide approach to safety combining the benefits of CDOT’s programs that address human factors, physical assets and organizational culture to better support real time operations. The goal is to improve the safety of Colorado’s transportation network by reducing the rate and severity of crashes and improving safety conditions for those traveling by all transportation modes. The program has one simple mission – to get everyone home safely.