Be ready for a six-hour closure on eastbound I-70 at Vail Pass this Tuesday Jan. 14.
CDOT is closing eastbound lanes between East Vail and Vail Pass Summit around 9 a.m. for vehicle recovery. They might not reopen until 3 p.m.
Crews are moving a semi-truck involved in a four-car pileup on Jan. 8. The truck driver and one other driver were seriously injured when the semi skidded out on slick pavement heading westbound, crossed into oncoming traffic heading eastbound, and then rolled onto the shoulder. It also leaked diesel fuel.
Six other occupants in two passenger vehicles escaped unharmed.
Your Vail-to-Summit detour during the closure is U.S. 24 (Battle Mountain Pass) from Minturn to Leadville, and then Highway 91 (Fremont Pass) to I-70 at Copper Mountain. It could add 90 minutes to your day.
But… this 53-mile detour takes you right by Ski Cooper. Might as well carve out a few extra hours for the cheapest turns in the state.