I-70 In Colorado Will Close For A Bizarre Reason This Winter

I remember back in the day when Northern Colorado was a bit smaller and more quaint, and we first started airing traffic reports on the radio station. This was back before we actually had any real traffic to report.

You could always expect I-25 to back up around the Harmony Exits. Prospect was always heavy getting near downtown. College in Fort Collins was always busy. Highway 34 into Loveland and into Greeley. The 257 exit into Windsor. People always knew this was the case, so our traffic reporters had to dig deep for news to report so they didn't repeat themselves each day.

And you know what came up most days? Sunglare.

Sunglare is when you're basically driving straight into the sun as it crests over the horizon, making it difficult to see the road ahead and near impossible to see oncoming traffic.

And believe it or not, CDOT will be closing I-70 periodlically this winter for this otherwise benign driving condition - except - from November to February, the sun is positioned in such a way that I-70 along Floyd Hill runs directly parallel toward it for a number of miles, making all visibility of what's in front of you basically disappear.

Apparently it's the only stretch of major roadway in the entire state at this particular angle for a significant distance, and therefore that's the reason it's the only road that CDOT ever closes for this reason.

Closures may happen anytime around sunrise for up to an hour at a time, and sunrise will happen anytime between 6:30 and 7:30 AM during the winter months.

You can get more information on the Colorado Department of Transportation's website.