CDOT Metering Ramps Onto I-70
GENESEE, Colo. (CBS4) – The Colorado Department of Transportation is metering the ramps onto Interstate 70 at Silverthorne and Frisco this weekend.
They are trying to avoid the extreme amount of traffic that was experienced by drivers last Sunday.
Driving from Silverthorne to the Eisenhower Tunnel took some people four hours.
"It did kind of scare me, so we waited today to get on the road later," said driver Rebecca Lasica.
In an effort to reduce traffic CDOT is metering cars merging onto eastbound I-70.
"They're going to hold you for three-to-five seconds, and then they're going to let you go. That pace just allows cars to merge more smoothly to the highway and avoid the congestion you're seeing, and allows people to run smooth up the hill," Amy Ford from CDOT said.
According to Ford, peak times to be caught in traffic are between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
That combined that with snow and icy conditions creates more problems like what was seen last week.
"We need to do our part to make sure roads are plowed as best they can, but if we're having people stop, especially on the incline at the Eisenhower Tunnel, that's when we're running into challenges," said Ford.
CDOT wants to expand their courtesy patrol aid to help stranded drivers and may also install stop and go lights at the on ramps in Frisco and Silverthorne
Until then they said it's up to drivers to be aware of road conditions.
"I hope they do some research and kind of make a plan," said Lasica.
CDOT will be metering traffic again on Monday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
They also suggest to keep things moving and make sure your tires and car are in good shape for the mountains.
