I-70 Vail Pass back open after closing due to safety concerns in Colorado mountains

I-70 Vail Pass reopened Wednesday evening after being closed in both directions from Vail to Copper Mountain for winter maintenance work and then promptly closed again minutes after due to "safety concerns." Minutes after reopening after an hours-long closure in both directions from Vail to Copper, eastbound lanes were closed between Exit 173 West Vail and Exit 190 Vail Pass Summit. 

"I-70 is really nasty today folks," said Oscar Sun, who braved the conditions to try to get a powder day on the slopes.

He got trapped in a classic Colorado winter I-70 backup when CDOT closed the road.

"I'm about what 4 miles out and we're at a dead stop right here," said Sun.

During the closure for both directions on Wednesday morning, drivers were encouraged to take the southern alternate route via Highway 24 and Highway 9 but warned that it was icy and snowpacked. Oscar Sun says pretty much every route seemed trecherous.

"It's really icy coming up toward Loveland Pass, into the tunnel. You're going to be slipping and sliding," said Sun.

CDOT posted on X, previously known as Twitter, that "we can not place an exact time on the re-opening I-70" for the initial closure on Wednesday morning. 

Meanwhile, Highway 40 over Berthoud Pass remained closed on Wednesday morning due to safety concerns following an avalanche that buried some vehicles over the weekend. Officials with the Colorado Department of Transportation said the heavy snow that's been falling this week led to two more snow slides on Tuesday and that the closure of the highway -- which started on Sunday -- would remain in place for a while longer as the substantial snow-clearing effort continues.

Oscar says his trip may have been a waste of time and wants you to learn from his mistake.

"Do your due diligence and stay home guys," said Sun.