Vail Police issuing East Vail access permits ahead of I-70 closures

The Town of Vail recently issued the following press release on issuing East Vail access permits to allow local residents to get into their neighborhood during Interstate 70 closures that badly clog local roads:

In preparation for the likelihood of winter road closures on Interstate 70, the Code Enforcement Team from the Vail Police Department will be greeting motorists in the East Vail neighborhood on Wednesday, Oct.16 to help distribute vehicle access placards issued by the Police Department. The free placards help improve access to East Vail neighborhoods during I-70 closures and are available for free to all requesting households.  

The distribution will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the entrance to the Bighorn park ‘n ride. The bright neon placards are also available from the Vail Police front counter, located at 75 S. Frontage Road, during regular office hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. 

By displaying the vehicle access placard during an interstate closure, East Vail residents who regularly travel to and from neighborhoods east of Aspen Lane will be directed through an eastbound checkpoint on the South Frontage Road East, at Ford Park, for expedited access to their neighborhood. All remaining traffic will be directed to park in the Vail Village and Lionshead parking structures until I-70 is reopened. 

In addition to the placard distribution, officers will be available to answer questions about the travel restriction that will again be in place this winter by the Colorado Department of Transportation. The restriction requires owners of two-wheel drive vehicles with standard tires to carry traction equipment on I-70 between milepost 133 (Dotsero) and milepost 259 (Morrison) from Sept. 1 through May 31. It also increases the minimum tread depth for tires on all vehicles – including those with four-wheel drive – from an eighth of an inch to three-sixteenths of an inch. This means that all motorists are required to either have an all-wheel or four-wheel-drive vehicle, or snow tires or all-season tires with a mud/snow designation and if they do not, they must carry chain devices throughout winter. Variable message signs along I-70 as 511 traveler information and www.cotrip.org will be used to notify motorists of when traction/chain law comes in effect. 

For more information, contact Code Enforcement Officer Mauri Cummins with Vail Police Department Code Enforcement at 970-479-2201.