Colorado Department of Transportation

Travel alert – Sun glare safety closures on eastbound I-70 at Floyd Hill begin in November Motorists should expect delays in the early morning hours on sunny days I-70 Mountain Corridor — Sun glare season is here and that means on sunny mornings, eastbound Interstate 70 at Floyd Hill east of Idaho Springs will close from sunrise to 8:30 a.m. from early November through February. When closures occur, drivers traveling on eastbound I-70 should prepare for delays of up to an hour. The first closure could occur at sunrise on Sunday, Nov. 3 if the weather is clear and sunny.

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) want to remind drivers that the closures are necessary to prevent crashes because the sun glare on eastbound I-70 is blinding. The sun’s angle, in combination with the hill and the highway’s configuration, can create a blinding sun glare for drivers as they head eastbound up Floyd Hill (about Mile Points 244 to 248 – east of Idaho Springs). The intense sun glare occurs as far east as Genesee beginning around sunrise and lasting until around 8:30 a.m.

Detour route

• If a sun glare safety closure is in place along eastbound I-70:
• Traffic headed eastbound on I-70 will be rerouted at Exit 244 (US 6) which is at the bottom of Floyd Hill.
• Motorists can either stay the course on US 6 through Clear Creek Canyon, or they can take the eastbound I-70 frontage road (US 40) and get back onto I-70 at Beaver Brook (Exit 248).
• Truckers should be aware, there are height restrictions in the tunnels along US 6 Clear Creek Canyon, no vehicles over 12′ 7″ can travel this route.
• The closures average around 45 minutes to an hour and can occur between sunrise and 8:30 a.m. from November through February each year.

Drivers who travel eastbound I-70 in the early morning hours during fall and winter are urged to pay attention to the overhead message boards beginning just east of the Eisenhower Johnson Memorial Tunnel. The signs will have the latest information on sun glare closures. Drivers can also check the travel alerts by going to COtrip.org.

The sun glare closures at Floyd Hill are for the safety of the traveling public. The decision is made on a case by case basis each morning with collaboration between CSP and CDOT personnel who are stationed near Floyd Hill. The eastbound sun glare can become blinding for drivers, especially when there is leftover moisture on the roadway from a storm or from pre-storm road treatment materials. On top of that, mountain driving conditions include steep hills, sharp turns, and possibly wildlife crossing the highway. For these reasons, the sun glare safety closures at Floyd Hill become necessary. This is a unified effort between CSP and CDOT to keep motorists as safe as possible.

Other driver recommendations

• Adjust your eastbound I-70 travel plans near Floyd Hill to before sunrise or later in the morning. Prepare for a sun glare safety closure to occur if you are traveling eastbound up Floyd Hill between 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. on sunny days November through February.
• Make sure your windshield is clean – inside and out. Ensure your vehicle has plenty of windshield wiper fluid.
• Wear a good pair of sunglasses to provide shading.
• Expect traffic slowdowns between 6:30 and 8:30 a.m. along I-70 eastbound near Floyd Hill, and adjust your speed to avoid sudden reactions.
• Let off the accelerator and slow down gradually instead of slamming on the brakes, if suddenly blinded by the sun.
• Road conditions can change quickly at this time of year. Drivers can check the latest road and weather conditions by going to COtrip.org.
• For more information visit sun glare safety — Colorado Department of Transportation.