The I-70 mountain express lane from Empire through Idaho Springs opened in December 2015. Since its opening it has reduced travel times and accidents. According to CDOT, during the 2015-2016 winter, this section of highway had normal travel times with traffic volume “that would have collapsed the corridor with speeds of 5-10 mph in previous years”. On MLK Day 2016, travel times were reduced by up to 52% from preconstruction year 2012. On April 3, 2016, the road averaged 3100 vehicles per hour during the 11 hours the express lane was open. Prior to the opening of the express lane, this volume would have caused the section of highway to drop to stop and go, but during the peak hour of 3-4 p.m. speeds were just below 55mph in the express lane and 40mph in the general purpose lanes. During the whole season, peak hour travel times stayed above 45mph in the express lane and above 35mph in the general purpose lanes.
An additional advantage to the toll lane is that access is limited along the route and there is nobody weaving in and out of traffic in that lane. The only on and off from the lane is Empire and Idaho Springs so be ready to enter.
The toll lane is only open during periods of peak travel such as weekends and holidays. The toll for the Mountain Express Lane varies with the amount of traffic. The greater volume of traffic, the higher the toll. The amount can be as low as $3 or as high as $15, but I have never seen it more than $8. The charge is significantly higher if you don’t have an express toll pass. It can cost $4 to $10 extra if the toll is charged by license plate photos. To get a pass go to www.expresstoll.com or call 303-537-3470.
This improvement to I-70 has eliminated the stop and go traffic that we used to run into if we hit I-70 at the wrong time.
