By Shannon Lukens. File photo.

 

Be prepared for heavy traffic for the Thanksgiving holiday, much of which could start Wednesday morning. Colorado Department of Transportation says traffic on the I-70 Mountain Corridor will increase starting Wednesday with the heaviest travel traffic Friday through Sunday evening. And snow is in the forecast Saturday and Sunday so that could affect holiday travel as well.

Here’s Chuck Marsh with CDOT.

“For this holiday season, for Thanksgiving, we’re expecting Wednesday to be one of the busiest days and then we’re also expecting some weather to come in on Sunday, so we want folks to stay aware of what’s going on on the roadways, and to do that, use our COTrip planner app, or download COTrip.org.”

Make sure you have a full tank of gas and your windshield wiper fluid is topped off. Have an emergency kit. Slow down for the weather conditions. Don’t pass snowplows on the right. And check road conditions atCOtrip.org

 

Longer message from Chuck Marsh, the Regional Communications Manager for Northwest Colorado for Colorado Department of Transportation.

 

Snowplow file photo

 

Press Release from Colorado Department of Transportation; Nov. 24, 2025.

CDOT urges safe, prepared travel ahead of Thanksgiving holiday and winter driving season

Statewide travel expected to surge, especially on I-70 Mountain Corridor

Statewide – The Colorado Department of Transportation is encouraging motorists to plan ahead and prepare for heavy traffic as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches. Drivers should anticipate additional traffic on the roadways over the next few days as people travel for Thanksgiving weekend and holiday shopping. While the forecast is still not certain for the weekend, motorists should be prepared for potential winter weather as they head home over the weekend. Weather can change in an instant at higher elevations, motorists are urged to be prepared.

To minimize traffic impacts, daily lane closures on state construction and maintenance projects will be suspended by midday Wednesday, Nov. 26. The only exception is for emergency operations. All projects can resume work on Monday, Dec. 1.

Traffic volumes on the I-70 Mountain Corridor are expected to increase beginning Wednesday morning around 8 a.m., with the heaviest travel Friday through Sunday, beginning around 8 a.m. and continuing to 6 p.m.

For those wanting to travel and forget about traffic, CDOT’s Bustang, Snowstang and Pegasus offer reliable, comfortable alternatives to navigating heavy traffic and mountain congestion. These services provide direct connections to major Front Range cities, mountain resorts and key destinations along the I-70 Mountain Corridor, helping reduce delays, improve safety and ease parking pressures at popular holiday spots. Please go to www.ridebustang.com for more information.

Traffic at the Eisenhower/Johnson Memorial Tunnels tends to be lower during Thanksgiving weekend than other fall and winter holiday weekends. Vehicle numbers in 2024:

	Westbound	Eastbound	Total
Wednesday, Nov. 27	16,933	14,120	31,053
Thursday, Nov. 28	16,596	14,586	31,182
Friday, Nov. 29	21,006	19,549	40,555
Saturday, Nov. 30	19,061	25,208	44,269
Sunday, Dec. 1	18,401	24,758	43,159
Total	91,997	98,221	190,218

Tips for safe holiday and winter travel

CDOT urges all travelers to:

• Check road conditions at COtrip.org or via the COtrip Planner app. Travelers can also call 511.
• Keep your gas tank full and ensure you have enough windshield wiper fluid.
• Pack an emergency kit (water, blankets, scraper, snacks, chargers, games or activities for bored backseat passengers)
• Slow down, increase following distance and stay alert
• Pull over and rest or switch drivers if you start to feel drowsy
• Never drive impaired or distracted
• Avoid passing plows on the right.

New – Your One-Stop Hub for I-70 Mountain Travel: codot.gov/i70mountain

In time for the winter ski season, CDOT has launched a brand-new online hub specifically for the I-70 Mountain Corridor, offering everything you need for smooth, safe travel. From shuttle options and real-time road conditions to live corridor cams and essential safety tips and laws, it’s all in one convenient place. This easy-to-use resource brings together the best tools from COtrip.org and the COtrip Planner app into a single, centralized hub. Remember: the road is different here, and your travel plans should be too. The I-70 Mountain Corridor is a mountain road — motorists need to be mountain ready.

The CDOT Safety Patrol will be assisting motorists in need during Thanksgiving weekend. Coverage areas include major highways in Denver and I-25 in Fort Collins and Colorado Springs from 6 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Off-Peak hours are 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends. Drivers are reminded to slow down and move over, if possible, when approaching the Safety Patrol or other first responders on the roadside. More information on the Safety Patrol, which is sponsored by GEICO, can be found at SafetyPatrolinfo.com and the CDOT website.

###

Know Before You Go

Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts and anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:

• Road conditions and travel information: COtrip.org
• Download the COtrip Planner app: bit.ly/COtripapp
• Sign up for project or travel alerts: bit.ly/COnewsalerts
• See scheduled construction lane closures: bit.ly/laneclosures
• Connect with @ColoradoDOT on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Download the COtrip App

The free COtrip Planner mobile app was designed to meet the growing trend of information on mobile and tablet devices for the traveling public. The COtrip Planner app provides statewide, real-time traffic information, and works on mobile devices that operate on the iOS and Android platforms. Visit the Google Play Store (Android devices) or the Apple Store (iOS devices) to download!

About CDOT

The Colorado Department of Transportation’s mission is to provide the best multi-modal transportation system that most effectively and safely moves people, goods and information. CDOT maintains more than 23,000 lane miles of highway, more than 3,400 bridges and 35 mountain passes. Our team of employees works tirelessly to reduce the rate and severity of crashes and improve the safety of all modes of transportation. CDOT leverages partnerships with a range of private and public organizations and operates Bustang, an interregional express bus service. Find more details at codot.gov.