The Colorado Department of Transportation is urging drivers to plan ahead for heavy traffic over the Fourth of July holiday.

As residents and visitors head to the mountains for the holiday, traffic volumes on the Interstate 70 mountain corridor and U.S. Highway 285 are expected to peak starting Thursday afternoon, July 3, and continue through Sunday evening, July 6, CDOT said in a news release.

The transportation department will suspend all construction and maintenance work across the state starting noon Thursday to help ease congestion and maximize safety, the release states. That includes the major I-70 Floyd Hill project between the Front Range and the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels.

While crews will not be actively working, motorists should still expect to drive through existing work zones with reduced speed limits. To avoid additional delays, transportation officials say drivers should remain alert and obey posted signage.

The Fourth of July typically marks the start of above-average traffic in the mountains, with summer tourism continuing for the next six to seven weeks. Public transportation options like Bustang, Pegasus and Bustang Outrider offer alternatives to driving to many mountain areas during this busy period.

In 2024, traffic volume at the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels remained high through the Fourth of July Weekend, with more than 45,000 cars passing through the tunnels on the two days before and after the holiday, which fell on a Thursday, according to CDOT.

Transportation officials recommend avoiding peak travel times. Westbound I-70 is expected to see the most traffic Thursday afternoon through Friday morning, while returning traffic eastbound is expected to be heaviest on Sunday afternoon.

Drivers should prepare for delays by packing extra water, snacks, medications and emergency supplies, according to CDOT. Tools like COTrip.org and the COTrip Planner app can help travelers stay up to date with traffic information and road conditions.