Know before the slow: CDOT launches new text alerts for I-70 mountain travelers

Crashes. Delays. Construction. Closures. There’s a lot that can mess with your I-70 plans. CDOT already offers several tools to help you “know before you go,” but when you’re halfway up the hill and everything changes? That’s where real-time info matters.

Just in time for peak travel season-- and ongoing construction on Floyd Hill and Vail Pass -- CDOT has launched a new text alert system for the I-70 mountain corridor. You can now get updates sent straight to your phone about traffic conditions, construction impacts, unexpected closures, openings and delays.

There are three separate text feeds you can subscribe to. Everything will come through the same message thread on your phone, so it’s easy to follow. Here’s how to subscribe to I-70 text alerts:

I-70 Mountain Express Lanes

Text xpresslanes to 21000 

• Get alerts when crashes, roadway obstructions or other unforeseen incidents cause sudden closures of the Express Lanes, or when they open in response to real-time traffic conditions.
  
  

Floyd Hill Construction

Text floydhill to 21000 

• Get weekly lookaheads, traffic impact updates and day-to-day reminders as crews continue rock blasting east of Idaho Springs.
  
  

Vail Pass Construction

Text vailpass to 21000

• Get weekly lookaheads, traffic impact updates and day-to-day reminders as crews continue rockfall mitigation and avalanche fence work.

Cross the line, pay the fine
To keep all highway users safe, the Safety and Toll Enforcement Program is in effect on all tolled Express Lanes. That means if you don’t follow the rules, you will be automatically issued a $75 fine (mailed to the vehicle’s registered address). Here’s what not to do:

1. Never cross the solid line to enter or exit the Express Lane. Only go in and out where the line is dashed. If one line is dashed and the other is solid, follow the line closest to you.
2. Don’t use the I-70 mountain Express Lanes when they are closed.
   
3. No oversized vehicles that have more than two axles or are longer than 25 feet are allowed in the I-70 mountain Express Lanes — the narrower nature of these lanes make them unsafe for oversized vehicles like RVs, trailers, and semis.  

To learn more about the Express Lane rules, how to use the lanes and when the I-70 mountain Express Lanes are scheduled to be open, visit expresslanes.codot.gov.