Break out the sunglasses and lower those sun shades — the season of early morning safety closures for sun glare on eastbound Interstate 70 at Floyd Hill is back.
Drivers could see delays of up to an hour on days when the sun glare creates dangerous conditions between sunrise and 8:30 a.m., the Colorado Department of Transportation said in a news release. The daily closures are possible between November and February.
CDOT and the Colorado State Patrol will decide on safety closures based on the severity of the eastward glare.
Several factors can make the sun glare worse or more dangerous, including leftover moisture from storms or road treatments; steep hills and sharp turns; and obstacles like wildlife crossing the highway, CDOT officials said.
The first closure, a “preparatory traffic hold,” is set for 7 a.m. Wednesday.
During sun glare closures, eastbound traffic will be detoured at exit 244 for U.S. 6 at the bottom of Floyd Hill. From there, drivers can take U.S. 6 through Clear Creek Canyon or U.S. 40, also known as the eastbound I-70 frontage road, until exit 248 for Beaver Brook.
Drivers can prepare for the glare by traveling later in the morning, making sure windshields are clean inside and out and having a good pair of sunglasses handy, state officials said.
Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter.