Press Release
I-70 Closure Near Vail for Crash Cleanup and Hazmat Response
VAIL, CO – Eastbound Interstate 70 near Vail will be closed on Tuesday, January 14, starting at 9 a.m. for a minimum of six hours due to a serious accident and subsequent diesel fuel leak requiring hazardous materials cleanup. The closure will necessitate a traffic detour at East Vail/Exit 180, directing motorists to travel east on US 24 to Leadville, and then take Colorado Highway 91 north to reconnect with eastbound I-70 at Copper Mountain. Drivers should anticipate an additional 90 minutes added to their travel time.
The incident occurred on January 8 at approximately 8 p.m. when a westbound commercial vehicle crossed the median and collided with both another commercial vehicle and passenger cars traveling eastbound. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) reported that hazmat procedures prevented the recovery of the vehicles on the day of the crash, extending the timeline for cleanup operations.
In light of the disruption, CDOT has scheduled the closure during a time of relatively low traffic flow. Travelers are strongly encouraged to plan ahead by checking for weather updates, road conditions, and potential travel impacts before setting out.
CDOT provides several resources to assist motorists, including:
- Up-to-date road conditions and travel information at COtrip.org
- The COtrip Planner app, available for download at bit.ly/COtripapp
- Sign-up options for project or travel alerts at bit.ly/COnewsalerts
- Scheduled construction lane closures at bit.ly/laneclosures
- Follow @ColoradoDOT on social media for real-time updates on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Please drive safely and remain informed.