Rep. Boebert Introduces I-70 Detour Act To Prevent Harmful I-70 Closures

Statement

Today, Congresswoman Lauren Boebert introduced the I-70 Detour Act to require the Department of Transportation to study viable local solutions to offset harmful I-70 closures and subsequently fund those important fixes and alternatives once the best solutions have been determined.

Rep. Boebert stated, "Living in Silt, I experience the frustration first-hand when I-70 closes. Left with no viable alternatives, travelers, truckers, and workers are forced to either change their plans, take a five-plus hour detour, or travel treacherous dirt roads to get where they are going. The I-70 Detour Act is a locally-driven solution to ensure commerce, tourism and the West Slope don't come to a screeching halt the next time a natural disaster or major traffic accident closes down I-70 for an extended period of time. The time is now and we can't squander another 20 years talking about how we need to fix I-70."

Colorado State Rep. Matt Soper said, "For years I've called for a viable alternative route to I-70's Glenwood Canyon, I enthusiastically support Congresswoman Boebert's bill to study alternative routes for I-70. Closures of I-70 in Glenwood Canyon have not only persisted this past year, but also in prior years. The interstate highway is the only major East-West transportation corridor in Colorado and is critical for public safety, commerce, industry, and farmers. As the son of a truck driver, I can tell you, Congresswoman Boebert's bill is essential for finally being able to create a viable alternative transportation route for West Slope residents affected by the closure of Glenwood Canyon."

Colorado State Rep. Perry Will stated, "I support such a study for alternative routes, from a commerce perspective to safety issues of rerouting traffic up Hwy 13 and over to Steamboat Springs. This cannot wait, the economic devastation to our local communities due to Glenwood Canyon closures must be addressed."

Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Diane Schwenke said, "We simply cannot afford to wait for the next disruption to occur. Something has to be done."

Garfield County Commissioner Tom Jankovsky stated, "We appreciate and support the Congresswoman's bill that focusses much needed attention on this important local, regional, and national issue. Specifically, we see the need and importance to immediately fund the already identified local improvements to Garfield and Eagle County roads that serve as an alternative route during a closure as well as to direct significant funding to add resiliency and mitigation to the hazardous sections of I-70 in Glenwood Canyon as a dual approach."

Delta County Commissioner Wendell Koontz said, "Closures on Interstate 70 have multiple impacts to the citizens of Delta County. We appreciate Representative Boebert and her staff in their efforts on the I-70 projects to maintain this critical piece of transportation infrastructure."

Wine Country Inn General Manager & Controller Ian Kelley stated, "Interstate 70 is the major commercial artery not only for supplying the Western Slope, but also interstate shipments. It quite literally is our business lifeline for supplies on all levels."

The Garfield County Commissioners'letter of support said, "We appreciate and support the intention of this proposed bill that focusses much needed attention on this important local, regional, and national issue…Again, we wish to thank you for your continued efforts to benefit Garfield County and the West Slope."

The Moffat County Commissioners'letter of support stated, "During an I-70 closure, all too often, the negative impacts to communities along I-70 are the focus of discussion. However, communities two hours north of I-70, such as Moffat County, are directly impacted from overwhelming traffic."

The Mesa County Commissioners'letter of support said, "Extended closures affect not only our residents and businesses ability to reach services available on the Front Range and hinder intrastate tourism to Western Colorado, but is also hugely impactful to interstate commerce…Thank you for your efforts to bring attention and funding to this important issue that impacts more than 17,000 drivers per day."

Background:

Last year, I -70 was closed for 16.5 days through Glenwood Canyon due to severe mudslides and flash flooding that buried the interstate in 10 feet of mud. Additionally, between June 26 and July 28, 2021, the Colorado Department of Transportation closed I-70 twelve times due to flash flood warnings. When I-70 is shut down for whatever reason (mudslides, traffic accidents, heavy snow, or wildfires), truckers, tourists, and many of Rep. Boebert's constituents are forced to travel on dangerous dirt roads with five-plus hour detours.

When I-70 was shut down from mudslides in 2021, Rep. Boebert was one of the first officials to inspect the damage and visit the crews working around-the-clock to reopen the interstate. Rep. Boebert worked with the bipartisan and bicameral Colorado Congressional Delegation to immediately secure $11.6 million in initial emergency funding. CDOT continues to do extensive work in the river as a result of the mudslides and damage. Once the initial emergency funding is exhausted, CDOT will start fronting the costs and then submit those for reimbursement to DOT once they have a final accounting. Rep. Boebert continues to stay engaged and support this important work.

In the weeks after the mudslides, Rep. Boebert met with many regional officials, and they voiced the need for a sustainable alternative when I-70 closes in the future. Rep. Boebert's bill, the I-70 Detour Act, is the result of input and discussions with local stakeholders on both sides of the aisle that want to find real solutions.

I-70 is one of the most critical east-west arteries in the country, with 4,900 trucks traveling on I-70 on any given day. It is the economic lifeblood for the West, connecting seven of the largest agriculture-producing states producing $81.4 billion of farm goods and 21% of total U.S. commodities. For every hour that I-70 is closed, it costs roughly $1 million in economic impact.

I-70's closures are especially damaging for communities on the Western Slope. The Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce noted that nearly 50% of businesses in the community struggled to get supplies and suffered substantial economic harm due to the mudslides that closed I-70.

Eagle and Garfield Counties have identified improvements that would improve safety

and help keep Cottonwood Pass functioning during I-70 closures. Rep. Boebert supports these improvements and incorporated them into her bill.

Specifically, Rep. Boebert's I-70 Detour Act requires the Department of Transportation, to study and recommend, as soon as possible, future alternatives to mitigate harm when I-70 closures occur, including analyzing an alternative proposed by Garfield County, 6 spot location improvements proposed by Eagle County, an alternative proposed by Eagle County stakeholders and CDOT, an alternative that improves I-70 system resilience and mitigates nearby hazards, and any other significant improvements and alternatives proposed by Garfield County, Eagle County, CDOT, or DOT before the date of enactment of the bill. The bill also includes fast-track provisions that ensure the final recommendations made by DOT will be authorized and funded in a timely manner.

Colorado Reps. Doug Lamborn and Ken Buck co-sponsored Rep. Boebert's I-70 Detour Act.

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