YOUR AD HERE »

CDOT to resume Vail Pass auxiliary lanes work

Rock-blasting work and evening delays anticipated in early May

A bridge pier and abutment for the future westbound bridge at I-70 Mile Point 185. Construction of the westbound bridge will be an early focus for the project team this season.
CDOT/Courtesy Photo

Work is resuming this month on the Colorado Department of Transportation’s I-70 West Vail Pass Auxiliary Lanes project. Crews are mobilizing to the construction area and clearing snow from equipment.

The project enters its third season with an early focus on the construction of the Mile Point 185 westbound I-70 bridge, among other improvements to Interstate 70. This year’s work will involve narrowed lanes and shoulders along I-70, lane closures and temporary traffic holds along the recreation trail.

Starting May 1, rock-blasting work and light evening delays are also expected. During these short blasts, I-70 traffic and recreation trail users will be stopped in both directions for up to 30 minutes. The blasting and limited delays will be similar to the successful blasting on the project last summer. Motorists and stakeholder partners can sign up for day-of notifications about blasting and travel delays. More information about the rock blasting is available below.



Work to improve safety and operations on I-70 from the East Vail Exit at Mile Point 180 to the Vail Pass Rest Area Exit at Mile Point 190 began in 2021. The first construction season culminated with the opening of a new emergency truck ramp near Mile Point 182.

Last year’s work relocated a 2-mile section of the Vail Pass Recreation Trail, including two bridges to cross the trail over Black Gore Creek. This section of the trail between Mile Points 185 and 187 needed to be moved farther from I-70 to facilitate the addition of an eastbound I-70 auxiliary lane and the realignment of substandard curves. The new path segment will open along with the rest of the recreation trail for Memorial Day weekend. 

Support Local Journalism




Other work planned to start later this summer includes the construction of six wildlife crossings and fencing, the eastbound highway closure system at the Mile Point 180 interchange, and initial work on the eastbound auxiliary lane from Mile Point 185 to 190.

Traffic Impacts 

This year’s work will involve narrowed lanes and shoulders along I-70, lane closures and temporary traffic holds along the recreation trail. During the rock blasting work, I-70 traffic and recreation trail users will be stopped in both directions for up to 30 minutes. 

For I-70:

  • Eastbound I-70 will be closed at Exit 180 (East Vail interchange) during traffic holds
  • Westbound I-70 will be closed at Exit 190 (top of Vail Pass interchange) during the traffic holds
  • Highway traffic holds are estimated to take place once per day when blasting occurs
  • Highway traffic holds are anticipated to last 30 minutes, though motorists should plan for additional delays due to the time required to clear held traffic
  • Highway traffic holds will only occur Monday to Thursday
  • Highway traffic holds will occur once in the evening, between 6 and 8 p.m., to minimize travel impacts and delays. The exact time when holds begin will vary depending on the day.
  • There will only be one blasting operation per scheduled day
  • Rock blasting and traffic holds can take place Monday to Thursday but are not allowed on weekends or holidays

For Vail Pass Recreation Trail:

  • Westbound trail users will be held at the Black Lakes Picnic Site
  • Eastbound trail users will be held approximately 3 miles up the 20-foot-wide path section, just before the cul-de-sac, about halfway up Vail Pass where the trail crosses under I-70
  • Construction flaggers will stop trail traffic at those holding locations
  • Trail traffic holds are estimated to take place once per day when blasting occurs
  • Trail traffic holds are anticipated to last up to one hour and possibly longer
  • Trail traffic holds will only occur Monday to Thursday
  • Trail traffic holds will occur in the evening between 5 and 8 p.m. Trail users are strongly advised to avoid using the trail during this time.
  • There will only be one blasting operation per scheduled day
  • Rock blasting and trail traffic holds can take place Monday to Thursday but are not allowed on weekends or holidays

Shrine Pass Road
Shrine Pass Road will be closed during blasting activities to ensure no one uses this road as a detour. The road is located at the top of Vail Pass.

Vail Pass Rest Area
The Vail Pass Rest Area continues to be closed through October 2023 for reconstruction. Drivers can use exit 190 (Vail Pass), but there will not be restroom facilities available. CDOT encourages motorists to use other rest areas nearby, including the Gateway Visitor Center in Georgetown and the Edwards Rest Area in Edwards. 


Support Local Journalism