TheDenverChannel.com








Denver Traffic

Drivers Cautioned About I-70 Sun Glare

Eastbound Drive Up Floyd Hill Is Worst Area

POSTED: 5:15 am MST November 5, 2009
UPDATED: 11:29 am MST November 5, 2009

The Colorado Department of Transportation is reminding drivers who travel Interstate 70 about the yearly sun glare problem in the Floyd Hill area.

From early November through early February, morning drivers can encounter a blinding sun glare as they head eastbound up Floyd Hill east of Idaho Springs.

The glare occurs from approximately 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. However, it is especially severe between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. The problem is created by the sun's angle during the late fall and early winter, along with the hill and highway configuration through the area.

CDOT will be providing advance notification of the potential hazard, displaying messages on electronic sign boards prior to Floyd Hill, alerting motorists of the sun glare, to use caution, and expect slower speeds.

Other driver recommendations include:
  • making sure the windshield is clean -- outside and inside
  • wearing a good pair of sunglasses to provide shading
  • anticipating slowing traffic ahead and adjusting speed to avoid sudden reactions to possible traffic slowdowns
  • letting off the accelerator and slowing down gradually instead of slamming on the brakes, if suddenly blinded by the sun
  • avoiding eastbound travel up Floyd Hill, if possible, between 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.

    Road conditions can change quickly at this time of year. Drivers can receive updated road and weather information by calling 511 or checking CDOT'sCOTRIP Web site.
    The following are comments from our users. Opinions expressed are neither created nor endorsed by TheDenverChannel.com. By posting your comments you agree to accept our Terms of Use. To report an offensive or otherwise inappropriate comment, click the "Flag" link that appears beneath that comment. Flagging a comment will send it to our editorial staff for review.

    Links We Like

    Sponsored Content
    You can pick your friends, but not your family -- or your neighbors. Here's what you need to know about how to deal with yours. More

    Here are five ways to maximize your chances of enjoying a workplace romance and surviving to tell the tale. More

    Ever wonder which cars people are buying the most? Find out here as we count down America’s top 20 sellers. More

    Learn the top five signs of common mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, and bipolar disorder. More

    Sponsored Links

    Health Topics & Information

    Many seemingly healthy foods are actually bad for your heart. Learn how to replace the imposters with nutritionally rich foods. More

    Desktop Alert

    Colorado's Geographic Regions
    Questions come in all the time about where the different regions of Colorado are. Here, you can learn where to find the foothills versus the plains and the different mountain areas. More