2015 Rebuilding Phase

Lore & Background

The United States Department of Transportation lists the construction of I-70 among the engineering marvels undertaken in the Interstate Highway System and cites four major accomplishments: the section through the Dakota Hogback, Eisenhower Tunnel, Vail Pass, and Glenwood Canyon. The Eisenhower Tunnel, with a maximum elevation of 11158 ft and length of 1.7 mi, is the longest mountain tunnel and highest point along the Interstate Highway System. The portion through Glenwood Canyon was completed on October 14, 1992. The Colorado Department of Transportation earned the 1993 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers for the completion of I-70 through the canyon.

Reader's Guide

I-70 enters Colorado from Utah, concurrent with US 6 and US 50, on a plateau between the north rim of Ruby Canyon of the Colorado River and the south rim of the Book Cliffs. The highway descends into the Grand Valley, serving Fruita, Grand Junction, and Palisade. East of Glenwood Springs, the highway enters Glenwood Canyon, featuring the No Name Tunnel, Hanging Lake Tunnel, Reverse Curve Tunnel, 40 bridges and viaducts. The highway departs the Colorado River near Dotsero and follows the Eagle River toward Vail Pass, at an elevation of 10666 ft. The highway descends to Dillon Reservoir and ascends to the Eisenhower Tunnel, crossing the Continental Divide. The freeway follows Clear Creek down the eastern side of the Rockies, passing through the Veterans Memorial Tunnels near Idaho Springs.

Did You Know?

• Bicycles and other non-motorized vehicles are allowed on those stretches of I-70 in the Rockies where no other through route exists.
• The Beavertail Mountain Tunnel features a curved side wall, unusual for tunnels in the United States.