Historically, No Major Spikes In Traffic Over Memorial Day Weekend
DENVER (CBS4)- Despite the trend that many people hit the road for Memorial Day weekend, the Colorado Department of Transportation said historically there aren't any major spikes in traffic volume across Colorado.
"Although many people view Memorial Day as the start of summer, wet weather in the forecast could see more folks sticking close to home," said Rod Mead, Operations Manager at the Colorado Traffic Management Center in a statement. "Our traffic data suggests that Memorial weekend is much more weather dependent than July 4th and Labor Day, because it doesn't quite feel like summer yet, especially with the rain and snow we've been seeing over the past few weeks," he said.
In order to make sure that what traffic there is gets there in a timely manner, CDOT has suspended projects along the Interstate 70 corridor as well as statewide.
Several of the state's high mountain passes that typically open in time for the holiday will remain closed, including Mt. Evans and Trail Ridge Road, because of recent snowfall.
Colorado's highest continuous seasonal highway, Independence Pass, was able to open on Thursday but motorists are encouraged to check road conditions before starting their trip.
Additional Information from CDOT:
CDOT is reminding motorists to consult the department's traveler information tools:
- Visit cotrip.org and CDOT Mobile;
- Call 511 anywhere in Colorado for periodically updated road conditions;
- Go to com – hosted by the I-70 Coalition – to see weekly I-70 travel forecasts based on historical data and how weather, construction or events may impact the mountain commute;
- Follow CDOT on Twitter and Facebook
