A multi-vehicle crash closed Interstate 70 in both directions near the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels on Tuesday afternoon after deputies said more than 75 vehicles were involved. The crash happened on the on-ramp of eastbound I-70 where traffic from U.S. Highway 6 merges into the interstate.
Colorado State Patrol said the closure near mile marker 216 was expected to last for an extended period of time. COtrip.org first reported the eastbound closure at 3:20 p.m., and by 4:06 p.m. westbound I-70 over Vail Pass was also closed because of another crash.
The pileup came as a snowstorm pushed a few inches of snow into the valleys and left mountain passes icy, with traction and chain laws in effect across the area. The combination of heavy winter weather and a major merge point turned a busy stretch of road into a standstill, and officials urged drivers to use alternate routes.
The closures were part of a wider shutdown across Interstate 70 and other highways as the storm moved through the mountains. With more chances for snow expected later in the week, the latest crash added another layer of disruption to one of Colorado’s most important travel corridors.