# Understanding the I-70 Detour Act

Interstate 70 through Colorado, particularly near Glenwood, closes down several times a decade due to natural hazards like rockslides and avalanches. When this happens, it's not just an inconvenience—it costs the economy about a million dollars every hour the highway stays shut. The I-70 Detour Act is essentially Congress saying: we need a backup plan, and we need to study what that plan should look like.

Here's what the bill actually does: it tells the Secretary of Transportation to spend the next two years studying alternative routes and improvements that could keep traffic moving if I-70 closes again. The study needs to look at several specific options that local Colorado counties have already proposed, including improving Catherine's Store Road in Garfield County, fixing six different spots on existing roads in Eagle County, and potentially developing a route down Cottonwood Creek. The study also needs to examine ways to make I-70 itself more resilient and less vulnerable to natural disasters. The report has to include cost estimates and feasibility assessments for each option so Congress knows what it's actually dealing with.

Once the study is done, Congress has 60 days to write actual legislation based on the recommendations, and then another 60 days to start considering that legislation. The bill also requires that whatever money gets spent on these improvements will need to be formally authorized by Congress. Essentially, this bill is a first step toward solving a real problem: when I-70 closes, there's currently no good way around it, and that costs businesses, travelers, and the economy huge amounts of money. The bill doesn't build anything or spend money yet—it just makes sure someone studies the problem seriously and reports back with solutions.

I–70 Detour Act

Boebert, Lauren

I-70 Detour Act This bill requires the Department of Transportation to submit to Congress a report with recommendations for significant improvements and potential alternatives to offset extended closures associated with Interstate Route 70, including at least one alternative to improve the resilience of Interstate Route 70 and reduce risks from nearby hazards. The report must include information regarding the cost and feasibility of each alternative or improvement described in the report.