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For the past few weeks I’ve been at WP exclusively and seen minimal delays on EB 70 from Empire. The tunnel is a big, big help. They did a stellar job, and going forward, that 3rd lane will really payoff during the busiest weekends.
The Eisenhower fire system retrofit should help on storm days when LL Pass is closed, but obviously, you’re going to have to bore another tunnel and construct additional lanes sooner or later…
Prolly shouldda included countless trips to Kmart from North Jersey on the T-way/Northway, many times in whiteout conditions, to my impressive list of driving credentials.Quote:
Originally Posted by fastfred
Attn: Summit/ Vail skiiers:
With the reported benefits of the tunnel and the continued metering/Eisenhower suckage a new plan may be in order. Has anyone seriously considered Trough Road or Ute Pass>Granby>Berthoud?
2+ hours in fair weather. Ute Pass north of the mining plant is dirt, so your rig will be soaked with grime real fast. Stick with 9 to 40.Quote:
Originally Posted by Foggy_Goggles
Funny you use that term. That new section of 3rd lane may be a toll lane starting in 2015 if CDOT has their way. Seems like creating a toll lane on a interstate hwy in that fashion might be controversial and possibly illegal. Guessing a good fight happens in 2014. We are waiting for an announcement on the public meeting dates.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cold_Smokin'
Possible. CDOT has said the toll isn’t around to cover construction costs. I’m not an attorney, but I’d imagine that since I-70 is already payed for, you can’t throw around tolls to encourage/discourage use for the hell of it.Quote:
Originally Posted by simple
I havn’t really looked at the plans. Will it be a free HOV lane like the ones in the city? Will other lanes be narrowed? What about a shoulder for emergency services? Should be a good debate.
Agree re: northeast. To this exBostonian and New Yorker, I70 isn't a big deal. The tunnel won't help peak days much but if it helps most ski weekend trips, that's great. Now what's the fix for the shitshow going westbound after 7am?
Higher lift tickets/pass pricesQuote:
Originally Posted by The SnowShow
It takes about 2.5 hours to get from Vail to Empire via the Trough Rd. and Berthoud. It takes about 2 hours to go Frisco to Empire via Ute Pass and Berthoud. How long did these respective drives take yesterday? How long will they take this weekend?Quote:
Originally Posted by Cold_Smokin'
About your rig getting dirty...you should probably just sit in traffic, update your facebook, and consider your next metrosexual skinny jeans purchase.
Whenever I see drive time estimates that are 25% less time than any route mapping combination, I usually call bullshinola. Just saying. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Foggy_Goggles
Anyway, snow, mud and mining sludge drippings make quite the mess. If traffics that bad, just go Kenosha. Or stop skiing Vail.
I drive those routes on the regular. The times are real. If you can't drive 50mph on an arrow straight snow packed dirt road, stick to the interstate. I don't really care how long it takes people to get home. I-70 is obviously the most direct route. I was simply talking out loud regarding possible alternate routes during DEFCON 4 Clusterfucks. How about Freemont or TN to 285. What is this mining sludge you speak of?
Who knows. It’s a grimy and sloppy road any time I’ve ever headed over there. I don’t think you’ll average 2 hours on that route, but we’ll agree to disagree. Would not consider Ute Pass a feasible route under any conditions, and certainly wouldn’t call most roads in the CO mountains “arrow straight”. This isn’t I80 In Iowa.
There are numerous options, some viable, some not, back to Denver. If you’re really looking at a 4+ hr commute, save the gas money and use it at the bar and relax. A good mindset to have.
That new tunnel is hilarious. Several times in the past week and a half I have come through there eastbound in heavy traffic. No one uses the third, right hand lane. No one. They just drive in the left two lanes. $100 million for a mile or two of an extra lane and everyone just lounges in the left two lanes.
Traffic WAS flowing, so maybe just knowing that there is a third lane has the desired effect, but it sure is funny,
So true. I've noticed the same. Hahasheeple
Dumbass Lemmings still put their brakes on in the new tunnel,it would be fascinating if I was Mr. Spock,but sadly it's just an unpleasant social commentary on commuters.
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news...t-twin-tunnels
somebody will still fuck up the west drive and spin it on floyd hill.....
I think the bigger issue with the westbound drive isn't the tunnels but the merge from three to two lanes at Floyd Hill. Lots of people have a VERY hard time merging over one lane. The tunnels being three lanes may help a bit but it will still be fucked once it changes to two lanes prior to Idaho Springs and after the wider tunnel.
Would take years but it probably needs to be 3 lanes the entire way both east and westbound.
peoples ability to merge onto a highway in colorado is pretty sad, drivers on the highway do not know how to get over when possible, as well as being polite giving room and letting drivers onto the highway drivers merging onto the highway do not know how to hit the gas merge properly and use their mirrors
almost like alternating in the lift line
I'm placing bets that 70 will be an EPIC shit show this weekend up and down, holiday weekend, sun, and what some people call EPIC snow!!!! the best laugh is the road is dry
Everyone here is in a big hurry to get somewhere so they tailgate to prove their point . What I like to do when someone tailgate me on 70 is drift over into the shoulder ever so slightly so that my aggressive snow tires kick up rocks, gravel and black snow onto their windshields. Works like a charm.
Add a third lane to the medium between west and east bound and have a movable jersey barrier. Change it daily so westbound has 3 lanes in the am, and westbound has 3 lanes in the pm.
Limit truck traffic during "rush" hours. How many times does one fucking truck cause 4 miles of backups, all bc it's going 20mph and everyone has to merge into one lane?
Require ppl to have winter tires on all vehicles.
That's a trucker trick...works GREAT when you have more than 30 wheels.Quote:
Originally Posted by newbreak
YEAH!!!! oldest trick around, slush works just as good, used on a weekly basis in scummit co my 1k heap with a 55k suv trying to ass fuck me, they pretty much back offQuote:
Originally Posted by newbreak
by the way, I'm pretty sure ten or so years ago cdot and the state had an agreement with clear creek county not to 6 lane 70 through their county
The "mining sludge" on Ute Pass is mag chloride - same as what is on 70.
The answer to the 7 am eastbound cluster fuck is 6 am. Actually in JanuaryFebruary it is 5:45.
The answer to the empty right lane is to use it. This is true for the entire drive.
Quote:
Originally Posted by newbreak
Unfortunately the downside of this is that the tailgater is usually too close to get much of it on their windshield. The slush does, but the rocks bounce in the air and hit the cars following at a respectable distance two or three spots back.
I removed my mud flaps. Tailgaters are no longer a problem.
Sucks to be them, see if we all just gave some space, no-one would have to pay the price.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rideski
No but see actually it sucks to be you, because some fucking moron is doing it 5 cars in front of you.
But wait, the coffee had not kicked in yet, I momentarily forgot you can never tell anyone they are wrong.
Carry on.
Breaking news...
Drivers in Colorado are still morons, assholes or both.
That's not what the balls hanging off my hitch think.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rideski
Breaking news...drivers suck everywhere. You should have to take a driving test every ten years.
I grew up and learned to drive near Buffalo, New York. How can Colorado drivers not know how to drive in the snow? I hate having the left lane clogged with drivers doing 40 or less, when 50 is safe.
I do think the state needs to limit big trucks between 6 and 10a west bound, and 1 and 6pm eastbound on weekends and Monday holidays.
Will you drive like less of an entitled fuckwad?Quote:
Originally Posted by newbreak
Haha that's funny. You have no idea how I drive except for an ironic forum post. Good to see folks have a sense of humor. Yes, I am sure the traffic would be different if trucks were limited.Quote:
Originally Posted by concretejungle
The driver right behind you is the entitled one.
Or we could just let the shit show get so bad that either you demand a mass transit option or quit skiing. If you're in the the traffic you're part of the problem and got no right to bitch.Quote:
Originally Posted by newbreak
+1Quote:
Originally Posted by The SnowShow
I've been saying this for awhile now.
You're the one who wants to limit access to people who use the road for what they're intended for. Interstate commerce.Quote:
Originally Posted by newbreak
Ironic forum post. You said how you drove and now you chalk it up to that? Own your douchy driving just like Danno.
The big rigs aren't the problem. It's the stupid fucks that can't drive when they get around them.Quote:
Originally Posted by newbreak
Except for the ass hole truckers that think they don't need to put chains on then get stuck. But there's already laws to address that.
hats off to Buffalonian's even with bad tires they can handle snow covered roads. long live North Tonawanda. even in a blinding snow storm or fog when you can't see it you can sure smell it :fm:Quote:
Originally Posted by ole2planker
last January driving back from Vail to Denver at the tail end of that 4 day period of constant snow wasn't too stressful. some fuckheads going too fast for the conditions but most seemed to be good drivers.