I-70 closed at Floyd Hill this week for being too sunny — here’s why

Sometimes, it’s simply too sunny to drive. At least if you’re driving east on one of the steepest stretches of interstate highway in America.

On Thursday morning, parts of eastbound Interstate 70 at Floyd Hill west of Denver were closed because of sun glare.

At approximately 7:30 a.m. Thursday, the Colorado Department of Transportation shut down part of the interstate because of sun glare.

While the department reopened the highway about half an hour later, it’s part of an annual sun glare issue along this steep stretch of I-70.

The department said that between early November and early February, the glare of the sun is so strong, it severely — if not completely — restricts visibility for drivers.

Of course, the steepness of this highway often creates an unusually high degree of other weatherrelated impacts, particularly during snowy and icy weather.

CDOT recommends alternate routes or simply avoiding the area altogether during late fall and winter.

Interstate 70 drops approximately 4,000 feet over just 9 miles at the Floyd Hill area, meaning that eastbound drivers drive straight into the sun’s glare over the course of a few months each year.

In winter the angle of the sun and the tilt of the highway at Floyd Hill combine to create this unusual set of circumstances.

The Transportation Department recommends the following to travelers eastbound on I-70:

• Make sure your windshield is clean, inside and out.

• Wear a good pair of sunglasses to provide shading.

• Expect traffic slowdowns, and adjust your speed to avoid sudden reactions.

• Let off the accelerator and slow down gradually instead of slamming on the brakes, if suddenly blinded by the sun.

• Avoid eastbound travel on Floyd Hill, if possible, between 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.