The Making Of The Eisenhower Tunnel (Interstate 70)

Its crazy how it can be 40 and sunny on one side and 15 and snowing on the other side a mile away

I went through the Eisenhower Tunnel when I moved to Utah from Florida, it's an experience I will never forget. I-70 in Colorado is probably the most beautiful stretch of interstate in the country.

The fact that a tunnel literally goes through the continental divide is so badass. This tunnel is higher than every state high point east of it and is narrowly higher than Oregon’s highest point, Mount Hood. My very first YouTube video featured Loveland Pass which is the bypass of this tunnel and then I also have videos on my channel featuring the drive through both tunnels. Big props to Colorado DOT for the construction of this engineering marvel. There is a scenic viewpoint along I-70 eastbound just before the town of Silverthorne that has information plaques that go over the history of these tunnels and provide some great pictures on how these tunnels were constructed! Highly recommend checking those out if you haven’t already!

The important thing to remember about the Eisenhower tunnel is to never ever schedule your trip to return Eastbound through the tunnel on a Sunday evening (Monday if a three day holiday). Everybody to the West has to travel through the tunnel to get back to Denver, and that is a ton of traffic. It becomes a miles long stop and go jam all the way up to the tunnel. Just before the entrance they separate the traffic into 4 lanes and use stoplights to interleave two vehicles at a time. For safety, CDOT runs the tunnel so it never backs up and you never have to stop while passing through. Once you are through the tunnel the traffic isn't bad because the tunnel throttles it back, but it will be hours getting up to the tunnel entrance.

During the winter months US-6 has been closed due to snow. When that happens trucks hauling Hazardous Materials (Haz-Mat) are directed thru the tunnel. The Interstate is temporarily closed for 5 minutes each hour to allow Haz-Mat trucks to travel through the tunnel. This is also done in a couple of other places.

My grandma lives in Denver and has a condo in Silverthorne, CO; the first exit to the west of the tunnel. I remember growing up going through this tunnel all the time. Lotta memories here😀

I used to go thru the Eisenhower fairly often as a long haul trucker. One time I was loaded fairly lightly and decided to bypass the tunnel and take US 6 Loveland Pass instead. That was an adventure for sure. I remember being above the tree line at the historic signs and looking down on I-70. It was gorgeous. I did it on dry ground and I wouldn't want to try it in winter. That little flimsy guardrail wouldn't stop me from sliding over the edge and some spots are straight down. I walked up to the historical markers at the top via a trail. On the way back down I started feeling light headed and weak. I thought damn, I must be coming down with something. Then when I got back to the truck I realized that it was the altitude at 12,000 feet. Very pretty up there.

It's the weirdest sensation driving past that 11,000ft elevation sign, then realizing you're going underground in a tunnel. Blows my mind every time.

This was an impossible truck route for me. Hauling potato chips that high will make all the bags explode. It's a 650 mile detour through Casper, WY

In 1972, my family was moving from New York to Arizona via Colorado. In August, the tunnel was under construction. We were riding in a 1971 Pontiac Granville pulling a 27-foot mobile home. We of course had to go through Loveland Pass. Traffic was screwed up. You had to drive US 6 as if you were in England. I was looking out my driver-side rear window looking down at treetops. There were NO guardrails. Halfway up, our car stalled. After about half an hour blocking traffic, a CAT came down to us and towed us to the inside of a hairpin curve. Dad kept trying to start the car but no joy. About 45 minutes later, it started. We discovered the car's carburation and timing was set at sea-level in NY. After a few stops and starts, we managed to get to Rifle, CO and had the car retimed and retuned. What a scary day for three young boys! I have been through the tunnel six times and over Loveland Pass twice since then.

Do a follow up on the Moffat Tunnel. It is the railroad tunnel that goes under the continental divide just north of the Eisenhower tunnel. The Moffat Tunnel opened in 1928 and is 6.2 miles long!

I've been through the Eisenhower Tunnel once and it was a fun experience. But I was surprised to realize that Hanging Lake Tunnel farther West has a maintenance garage and regional monitoring facility in the middle of the road tunnels. Who knows what other secrets are in the I70 tunnels.

Love when Colorado gets a spotlight! Growing up in Denver I have been through that tunnel countless times!

If you go to Loveland Basin, you are literally skiing over the Interstate.

I've skied at Loveland Ski Area which has some runs that go over the tunnel. Yes, the traffic can be a nightmare. Also, Vail Pass was another feat. The highway bridges were built by one of the best bridge designers in the world. They have a bike path along the whole way from Vail to Copper Mountain. If you are into mountain drives, non better than I 70 from Denver to Grand Junction. It will leave you breathless from time to time.

Love that you used my hometown Springfield, MO as an example for the old Denver population. Denver had an explosion in population over the last few decades and has outgrown everything including the old airport (Stapleton). Springfield, MO is a major city but not on the same level as cities like Denver or even KC/STL...

Always look forward to your videos. As a truck driver for over 30 years, when you past a video I saw I wonder if I have been there. Almost always I have including this one. Been to all 50 states and all 7 continents. Keep up the great work.

It’s kinda funny that they consider it two tunnels. I don’t think it’s the same here in Pittsburgh, we just call the fort Pitt tunnel one tunnel even tho there’s technically two, but the squirrel hill tunnel is referred to both ways as either singular or plural.

When I saw your poll earlier today, I was prepared to vote for Colorado and the Eisenhower Tunnel. Thanks for doing this video.

This channel has really got me interested in interstates