Pace Cars Returning to Colorado Interstate Mountain Roads

February 13, 2012

Police pace cars are returning to eastbound Interstate 70 in the Colorado mountains in another attempt to reduce congestion as snow enthusiasts return to Denver and other Front Range cities.

The Colorado Department of Transportation says cars will pace traffic between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday between the Eisenhower Tunnel and Floyd Hill.

The police cars drive between 35 and 55 mph with lights flashing to pace traffic. The goal is to produce more uniform speeds to reduce congestion and crashes.

Heavy traffic is expected Sunday because of the Winter Mountain Games in Vail. CDOT says it took as long as 2 hours and 10 minutes to drive the 60 miles from Silverthorne to Denver after last year’s games.

If speeds drop to 30 mph, pacing will be suspended.