UPDATE: All highways reopened after storm shut down 3 major mountain passes in Summit County Monday
8:30 p.m.: All highways are reopened in Summit County.
6:45 p.m.: After Vail, Hoosier and Loveland passes along with Interstate 70 were all closed in both directions for extended periods, only westbound I-70 is currently closed.
5:50 p.m.: Vail Pass has reopened in both directions after an all-day closure and westbound traffic is moving again after a closure east of the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnels.
5:30 p.m.: Traffic cameras on Hoosier Pass are showing a traffic jam following reports of a vehicle that slid off of Colorado Highway 9 near the summit of the mountain pass.
5:10 p.m.: Shortly after reopening Monday evening, westbound lanes of Interstate 70 shut down around 5 p.m. Traffic is stopped just east of the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnels for a rollover near mile marker 213 on the west side of the tunnel, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
4:20 p.m.: After almost two full days of continuous snowfall, Summit County Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons said Monday, Jan. 15, that roadway impacts should be clearing up as the storms moves out of Colorado.
Around 4 p.m. Monday, FitzSimons said that Interstate 70 should be reopening within the hour both at Vail Pass and near Exit 205 in Silverthorne. I-70 reopened in both directions from Silverthorne and Gerogetown around 4:14 p.m., according to CoTrip.org. Vail Pass remains closed, as of 4:20 p.m.
Winds will likely continue into the night, but snowfall is expected to stop this evening, he said.
While 911 has not received any calls for shelter during the winter storm, the Silverthorne Recreation Center will be open until 9 p.m. for anyone who wants to get out of the cold, FitzSimons said.
After warning drivers earlier in the day to stay off the roads “unless absolutely necessary,” FitzSimons said that it would remain helpful if those who don’t have to drive remain off the roadways until they can be cleared of snow and ice.
“It would be helpful if everyone could just stay put,” FitzSimons said. “Then we’re gearing up for the storm Wednesday, Thursday.”
3:30 p.m. Hoosier Pass has reopened following a closure to restore internet service in the area, but the Colorado Department of Transportation says the right shoulder is closed, causing delays to build up.
Interstate 70 remains closed eastbound from Exit 203 in Frisco to the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels, and westbound traffic on the interstate is closed westbound from Georgetown to the tunnel, effectively closing both lanes of travel through the tunnels.
Vail Pass remains closed in both directions due to safety concerns, and U.S. Highway 6 over Loveland Pass remains closed due to avalanche danger.
Berthoud Pass is also closed following an avalanche Sunday that trapped 10 vehicles.
12:45 p.m.: Westbound I-70 was closed near Georgetown at 12:30 p.m. due to adverse conditions, according to CoTrip.org, following an eastbound closure of the interstate around 10 a.m. Both directions of travel have no timeline for reopening.
12:11 p.m.: Interstate 70 over Vail Pass is closed in both directions due to safety concerns, according to CoTrip.org. The eastbound lanes of I-70 also remain closed.
Colorado Highway 9 over Hoosier Pass is closed and will remain closed for an indefinite amount of time as Xfinity crews work to restore internet to thousands of customers, according to town of Blue River town manager Michelle Eddy.
U.S. Highway 6 over Loveland Pass has been closed for a majority of the weekend due to avalanche danger and safety concerns. Since Highway 6 is closed, hazmat vehicles are required to stage at the tunnel and wait until the top of the hour to go through the Continental Divide, which causes full closures of the tunnel until the hazardous materials make it through safely.
On Sunday, Colorado Department of Transportation issued a warning to drivers that multiple highways in the High Country could see safety closures due to slick roadways and heightened avalanche danger caused by blizzard-like conditions.
10 a.m.: Eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 are closed between East Frisco and Loveland Pass exits due to safety concerns, as of 10:20 a.m. Monday, Jan. 15, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
Find the most updated travel information at CoTrip.org.
This story will be updated.
Support Local Journalism
Support Local Journalism
As a Summit Daily News reader, you make our work possible.
Summit Daily is embarking on a multiyear project to digitize its archives going back to 1989 and make them available to the public in partnership with the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection. The full project is expected to cost about $165,000. All donations made in 2023 will go directly toward this project.
Every contribution, no matter the size, will make a difference.