Traffic meter now on I-70 at Eisenhower Tunnel?

[roadman65]

I see US 30 at Breezewood is no longer the only signal along I-70.  I am not familiar with the area, but first I found out via post on FB.

[SkyPesos]

If you're referring to this signal, they have been there since at least GSV first became a thing. You can scroll back to 2007 and see it.

[zachary_amaryllis]

If you're referring to this signal, they have been there since at least GSV first became a thing. You can scroll back to 2007 and see it.

its probably 50 miles from parshall....

[renegade]

I see US 30 at Breezewood is no longer the only signal along I-70.  I am not familiar with the area, but first I found out via post on FB.

If you saw it on Fakebook, it's probably a lie.

[bwana39]

This signal is for several reasons. The primary reason is for when they are doing the hazardous cargo trips. (They are for escorted traffic in both directions ) When the HC is going through the tunnel, all the other traffic in both directions must stop.  They also use them when there is a wreck in the tunnel, when there are certain maintenance operations, and if there is a problem with the tunnel's systems (especially ventilation) By the way, the lights also work an an absolute height trap.

[rickmastfan67]

Both the Ft Pitt Tunnel & the Squirrel Hill Tunnel (on I-376) have traffic lights like that too.  Mostly they're there to either indicate a lane is closed (due to construction or disabled vehicle in one lane), or if the tunnel has to be completely closed due to a wreck blocking both lanes.

[Flint1979]

I believe that it's for when an over height truck tries to enter the tunnel there are sensors that activate sirens in the tunnel and the traffic lights go to red to stop the traffic until the over height vehicle is removed from the tunnel. In 2007 a retrofit added 5 inches of height to the tunnel.

[zzcarp]

This signal and the one installed at the bottom of the grade up from Dillon are used for traffic metering. CDOT uses these when there is heavy congestion to the east of the tunnel so that vehicles aren't stopped within the tunnel proper. They have a concern that emergency vehicles can't get through the tunnel to assist especially if one caught on fire or was disabled for some other reason.

This is not analogous to Breezewood where traffic passes through at-grade intersections and traffic lights. Think of this as more like a draw bridge traffic light or like a temporary closure gate used in inclement weather.

[The Ghostbuster]

Are there any other tunnels besides the aforementioned tunnels that have similar signals?

[US 89]

This signal and the one installed at the bottom of the grade up from Dillon are used for traffic metering. CDOT uses these when there is heavy congestion to the east of the tunnel so that vehicles aren't stopped within the tunnel proper. They have a concern that emergency vehicles can't get through the tunnel to assist especially if one caught on fire or was disabled for some other reason.

Somehow I didn't know about the one in Dillon. I guess I haven't gone eastbound through the tunnel in over 10 years now despite going through it westbound several times since then.

At any rate, the lights at the tunnel itself have been there at least since 2005 or so when I went through there for the first time (at least that I can remember).

[ski-man]

I have been stuck in traffic for these signals before. I gets used when traffic on I-70 is too heavy and they do not want to have standstill traffic in the tunnels. So they spread out the traffic coming up to the tunnels to keep the traffic moving at a constant as possible speed. It took me 2.5 hours to get up from Dillon to the tunnel moving eastbound. You see this a lot in the summer & in the winter, especially on Sunday afternoons eastward with everyone heading back to Denver.

[JayhawkCO]

I have been stuck in traffic for these signals before. I gets used when traffic on I-70 is too heavy and they do not want to have standstill traffic in the tunnels. So they spread out the traffic coming up to the tunnels to keep the traffic moving at a constant as possible speed. It took me 2.5 hours to get up from Dillon to the tunnel moving eastbound. You see this a lot in the summer & in the winter, especially on Sunday afternoons eastward with everyone heading back to Denver.

Yeah.  If my wife and I go to the mountains on a Sunday, we're either heading southwest on US285 or up near Nederland/Allenspark/Estes Park.  Or at worst, at least staying east of the tunnel on I-70.  We make the most of Summit County and such in the shoulder seasons instead.

Chris

[roadman65]

I see US 30 at Breezewood is no longer the only signal along I-70.  I am not familiar with the area, but first I found out via post on FB.

If you saw it on Fakebook, it's probably a lie.

Fact Check don't censor it.😁

[renegade]

I see US 30 at Breezewood is no longer the only signal along I-70.  I am not familiar with the area, but first I found out via post on FB.

If you saw it on Fakebook, it's probably a lie.

Fact Check don't censor it.😁

Because that's a joke, too.