Will the Broncos game offset travel to the high country? CDOT on I-70 traffic this weekend

(COLORADO) — The AFC Championship between the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots kicks off at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 25, in the Mile High City, but that’s not the only sporting event taking place in Colorado this weekend, as the Winter X Games returns to Aspen.

The question now is whether the Broncos game will alleviate some of the usual and event-based traffic through the I-70 Mountain Corridor, and that’s exactly what the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) answered on Friday, Jan. 23.

Looking back at this particular weekend last year, CDOT said the X Games brought snowy conditions and increased traffic on I-70. “With the Broncos out of the playoffs, demand stayed high, producing pronounced morning and evening congestion at Floyd Hill, increased volumes at the Eisenhower Johnson Memorial Tunnels and over Vail Pass, and a long Sunday return,” recalled CDOT. “That late surge from Aspen on Sunday contributed to nine hours of tunnel metering, lasting into the evening.”

2025 CDOT traffic heat maps: Friday, Jan. 24, 2025 – Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025

  • Courtesy: CDOT

  • Courtesy: CDOT

  • Courtesy: CDOT

  • Courtesy: CDOT

  • Courtesy: CDOT

  • Courtesy: CDOT

  • Courtesy: CDOT

  • Courtesy: CDOT

As far as this weekend goes, while the Broncos are in the playoffs this year, CDOT expects that snow and the Winter X Games will still drive some demand on I-70.

Here’s what CDOT expects for this weekend:

  • Winter X Games: The event draws large crowds to Aspen and typically results in heavier-than-normal return traffic on Sunday, often arriving later in the day as attendees travel back through Silverthorne and the tunnels.
  • Snow and cold temperatures: Moderate snow is possible Friday into Saturday, which could increase ski traffic, particularly on Saturday.
  • Broncos playoff game: With a 1 p.m. kickoff Sunday, some travelers may head home earlier or stay put to watch, keeping the main Sunday peak closer to late morning.

“Expect increased travel Friday and Saturday, an earlier Sunday peak around 11 a.m., and the potential for late-day Sunday congestion tied to X Games traffic returning from Aspen,” CDOT wrote. Drivers can check conditions before heading out by visiting COtrip.org or using the #COtrip Planner app.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Post Related