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Storm Closes Highways Across The Whole State Of Colorado

DENVER (CBS4) - Saturday's storm made traveling on Colorado's roads treacherous all day and into the night.

The Colorado Department of Transportation ordered Interstate 70 closed for several stretches in the mountains and on the Eastern Plains.

I-70 was closed from Airpark Road all the way to the Kansas state line. Blowing snow made visibility poor. The highway was expected to get worse during the night as temperatures dropped.

One group of people from Georgia was in Colorado for a ski vacation and had their flight home canceled at Denver International Airport. They rented an SUV and decided to try to drive back to Georgia only to run into the I-70 closure.

"It's turning into a sheet of ice, it's looking pretty bad," the driver said.

The group remained in good spirits despite the setbacks.

Other closures on I-70 were in the mountains from the Eisenhower Tunnel to Silverthorne and Mt. Vernon Canyon in the foothills where vehicles attempted to climb the hill and couldn't make it, causing a massive traffic jam.

The highway in Mt. Vernon Canyon going westbound was just too slick and too steep for those without adequate tires.

All day long visibility was poor in the foothills, making for slow going.

"I could imagine if you didn't have a four-wheel drive you probably wouldn't want to be out here," motorist Jeff Hartman said. "I do, fortunately."

It was a very busy day for tow truck drivers.

CDOT also closed US 24 from Calhan to Colorado Springs, US 40 from Limon to Colorado Springs, US 40 from Limon to Kit Carson, CO 86 from Kiowa to Limon and CO 71 from Limon to Brush.

Check CDOT's website for a list of closures across Colorado.

LINK: Traffic Section

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