A late-season spring snowstorm caused major travel disruptions along Colorado’s I-70 mountain corridor Wednesday morning, May 6, leading to a multi-hour closure near Vail Pass as snow totals as deep as 30″ were reported in mountain areas across the state. According to reporting from The Denver Post, eastbound lanes were shut down for more than two hours after two semitrailers jackknifed near milepost 185. The closure, which stretched from East Vail at Exit 180 to the summit of Vail Pass at Exit 190, was officially lifted by 10:30 a.m. after state transportation officials cleared the scene and reopened the roadway.
While the Colorado State Patrol described the incident as a “motorist assist” implying no significant damage or injuries occurred, the jackknifed trucks effectively blocked all eastbound traffic during the height of the storm. Traffic cameras in the area at 8:30 a.m. captured images of empty, snow-covered lanes as flurries continued to fall heavily across the high country. This recent burst of winter weather has had widespread impacts beyond the highway; as noted by state officials, the heavy, wet snow left more than 55,000 residents without power and triggered various school delays and closures throughout the Denver metro area.
In Estes Park, nearly 30″ of new snow fell since Tuesday. The National Weather Service expects accumulating snow to persist along the I-70 corridor until approximately 3 p.m. Wednesday, followed by lighter flurries throughout the night. Forecasters and transportation officials urge travelers to remain cautious, as road surfaces may remain slick despite the reopening of major thoroughfares.
