Heavy Snow, Accidents Close I-70, Traction Laws In Effect
SUMMIT COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4)- Heavy snow was falling in the mountains on Friday which led to accidents and the closure of Interstate 70 along several stretches. Traction laws were in place.
Westbound lanes of I-70 were closed from C-470 to the Eisenhower Tunnel because of heavy snow and several accidents for several hours. Those lanes reopened at 5:45 p.m.
Eastbound I-70 from Silverthorne to the Eisenhower Tunnel remained closed until 7 p.m. Friday.
Eastbound lanes of I-70 at Vail Pass were also closed for a while on Friday afternoon for accident cleanup.
"I love the snow doesn't scare me but there are a lot of idiots who don't know how to drive or are not prepared," said driver Steven Kearns.
Drivers caught in the storm told CBS4 that multiple big rigs were stuck on the pass and not carrying chains, in violation of the chains and traction laws put into place Friday.
"I knew it was going to snow but didn't know it going to be like this this is too much," said Liz Ligon from Grand Junction.
Local law enforcement urged drivers to stay off the roads until crews can catch up with Mother Nature and clear the snow for drivers.
Highway 285 was closed at Highway 8 near Morrison and over Kenosha Pass for more than three hours when it reopened at 5:30 p.m. Friday.
There was eight inches of fresh powder in downtown Frisco by Friday.
Summit County was expected to get up to 10 inches of snow in the latest storm system that could bring up to three inches of snow in the Denver metro area.
Not only is it snowy, but it's expected to be a frigid night. Temperatures dropped 18 degrees over the course of an hour at DIA on Friday with the coldest temperatures of the season overnight into Saturday into the middle teens.
There were no significant delays at Denver International Airport on Friday night because of the snow.
Matt Kroschel covers news throughout Colorado working from the CBS4 Mountain Newsroom. Send story ideas to mrkroschel@cbs.com and connect with him on Twitter @Matt_Kroschel.
