New Vail Pass Rest Area open ahead of winter season

EAGLE COUNTY, Colo. (KKTV) - On Tuesday, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) announced the grand opening of a new Vail Pass Rest Area, just in time for the winter season.

CDOT said the new facility offers expanded and safer parking for cars and trucks, fully accessible restrooms and amenities and a design that they say should reduce long-term operating costs.

The building also reportedly offers 22 restroom facilities - two women’s facilities with six stalls each, two men’s facilities with four stalls each and two family restrooms. CDOT said the purpose of having two of each type of restroom guarantees that one will always be open during maintenance.

The department said the project also integrates the Ten Mile Canyon Trail into the rest area to create a “safer and more seamless experience for both motorists and recreationalists.”

CDOT said the rest area has 248 parking spaces, with 113 passenger vehicle spaces, 95 snowmobile spaces and 20 freight spaces.

“Countless Coloradans and visitors from around the world travel I-70 to enjoy our incredible mountain communities and the breathtaking outdoors our state has to offer. This new rest area will improve that experience for travelers, giving them a safer place to take a break from their drive,” Governor Jared Polis said.  

According to the department, the Vail Pass Rest Area project began in May 2023.

CDOT said the project cost a total of $21 million, and funding was provided by the Joint Budget Committee and signed into law by Governor Polis through the state budget.

“At over 10,000 feet, Vail Pass is one of the most challenging and important corridors in Colorado,” Shawn Smith, CDOT director of the Division of Maintenance and Operations, said. “This rest area isn’t just about convenience; it directly supports safety by giving motorists a place to pause and by providing increased capacity for maintenance equipment storage that will improve winter maintenance operational readiness. Our teams work year-round in some of the toughest conditions in the state, and this new facility will allow us to respond to various hazards on the roadway faster and more efficiently.”