Clear Creek County, CO – Commuters traveling through Colorado’s mountain corridor are facing significant delays Thursday morning after a crash forced the closure of eastbound Interstate 70 near a major tunnel in Clear Creek County.
According to the Colorado State Patrol, eastbound I-70 is closed near the tunnel at milepost 216 due to a crash reported earlier Thursday. Authorities have not released details on the number of vehicles involved or whether any injuries were reported, but the closure is impacting a key travel route between the Denver metro area and the western slope.
Traffic backups quickly formed as drivers were forced to stop or divert around the closure. Officials are urging motorists to use alternate routes and to expect extended delays, especially during peak morning travel hours. Eastbound traffic in the area is being rerouted while emergency crews work at the scene and assess roadway conditions.
The closure affects drivers traveling through Clear Creek County, west of the Denver metro area and east of the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels, a heavily traveled stretch of I-70 that frequently experiences congestion during incidents or adverse conditions.
The Colorado Department of Transportation recommends checking real-time road conditions before traveling through the area. Updates on lane closures, detours, and reopening times are being posted through COtrip.org and official state transportation channels.
No estimated reopening time has been announced as of Wednesday morning. Drivers are encouraged to delay travel if possible, reduce speed in surrounding areas, and follow directions from law enforcement and traffic control personnel.
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