As of 4 p.m., I-70 reopened in both directions, but CDOT warned drivers to be aware of “brownout conditions” affecting other nearby areas.
COLORADO, United States — The journey home after Christmas always seems longer, and on Sunday that was the case for many people in Colorado. Drivers who didn’t leave early found themselves stuck in snow squalls and dust storms that forced freeways to close for hours.
US 40 between Steamboat Springs and Kremmling was somewhat closed on Sunday. A snow squall warning was in effect and Kremmling Airport reported winds of 46 mph. Visibility there was less than a quarter of a mile at one point.
A driver from East and West Towing LLC in Kremmling said he made at least 10 calls on Sunday afternoon to help people who had their cars slid off the road. He said all calls were on US 40.
“When it closes, everyone gets stuck on whatever side they’re on,” Julie Munoz said. She helps in the family business The Canyon Motel in Hot Sulfur Springs.
“There aren’t a ton of hotels or motels, so it all fills up very quickly,” she said.
Rooms were booking out in Kremmling, so people are heading to Hot Sulfur Springs. The motels there also filled up quickly.
“There are only about 14 rooms in our motel, so it’s small,” Munoz said. “We had booked three or four rooms this morning and now we are fully booked.”
In Steamboat Springs, wind and snow tore through the mountain town. Shannon Lukens is Steamboat Radio’s News Director. She said the first alert about the snow squall came around 1 p.m. Sunday.
“I hope everyone stayed inside and pulled over,” she said. “The visibility was just awful.”
Interstate 70 was closed in both directions between Peoria Road and Byers due to a crash Sunday afternoon, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).
RELATED: I-70 reopens after two crashes Thursday night
RELATED: I-70 reopens after closing near Loveland Pass
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