While a major roadwork project on Vail Pass causing single-lane summer closures will continue through next year — interrupted by a winter hiatus — there is good news for backcountry skiers and snowmobilers drawn to the popular Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area.
The rest area near the top of the pass, which has been closed since the spring of 2023, is finally set to reopen by the end of September.
Ongoing Interstate 70 construction at multiple locations on the pass will continue for a few more weeks until winter weather forces suspension of operations. Last year, that occurred on Nov. 22. The Vail ski area is scheduled to open this year on Nov. 14.
The new rest area will include updated restrooms capable of meeting present and future needs, a new drinking water system and expansion of the parking lots from 73 spaces to 248, according to CDOT spokeswoman Stacia Sellers.
That’s great news for winter backcountry users. In recent years, the recreation parking lot was frequently full on weekends by mid-morning.
Parking designated for recreation users will expand from 35 to 61 spaces. Rest area parking will increase from 32 to 53 spaces. In addition, there will be 19 “flex” spaces for recreation or rest area overflow and 95 snowmobile parking spaces.
Major construction project on Interstate 70 over Vail Pass includes relocation of the bike path. (Provided by CDOT)
Vail Pass has long been a favorite stop for summer tourists, too, but it’s the primary gateway to the Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area, which attracts 45,000 winter users annually. With Vail Pass marking its northeast corner and historic Camp Hale forming its southwest boundary, at 55,000 acres it contains more than 119 miles of motorized and non-motorized winter trails and six backcountry huts. User fees are required from November until May and are collected by the White River National Forest.
The rest area rebuild was scheduled to begin in May 2022, but was delayed a year because of “funding shortfalls,” according to Sellers. Short construction seasons in 2023 and 2024 also slowed the project.
The Interstate 70 project includes construction of an eastbound auxiliary lane with a widened inside shoulder, eastbound and westbound bridge replacements near mile marker 185, relocation of the Vail Pass bike path, westbound curve modifications with a widened inside shoulder near mile marker 188, five wildlife underpasses and a new avalanche mitigation fence, according to CDOT spokeswoman Austyn Dineen. Apart from the winter closure, CDOT expects construction to continue through the end of 2026.
Construction typically runs Monday through Friday mornings, but no lane closures are expected Labor Day weekend, Friday through Monday.
Major construction project on Interstate 70 over Vail Pass includes replacement of two bridges about five miles west of the pass. CDOT says the project is expected to continue through the end of 2026, although operations will be suspended during the winter. (Provided by CDOT)
The post After 2-year closure, new Vail Pass rest area, expanded parking set to reopen in September appeared first on Denver Post