Eisenhower Pass, also known as Straight Creek Pass, is a high mountain tunnel system in the Colorado Rockies, passing under the Continental Divide. The Eisenhower Summit is located on Interstate 70, approximately 9 miles east of Dillon, Colorado. I-70, on both sides of the Eisenhower Tunnel system, has a steep descent. Eisenhower Pass is one of three steep grades on I-70 between Denver and Utah, with Vail Pass to the west and Floyd Hill to the east. Eisenhower Pass receives a large amount of snow in the winter and often has chain restrictions for commercial trucks.
Westbound I-70 from the Eisenhower Summit has a vertical descent of 2,363 feet over a distance of 8.6 miles. The westbound descent begins just after exiting the tunnel. The reported grade for the westbound descent is 7% for 7 miles. The grade is steady for approximately 6.4 miles, where it lessens to a 5% to 6% grade for the next 2.2 miles. I-70 transitions to an upgrade 8.5 miles west of the summit, or just past the 205 exit for Dillon, Colorado. Trucks experiencing brake fade are warned not to exit at the Dillon exit and are instructed to continue to the upgrade.
Eastbound I-70 from the Eisenhower Summit has a vertical descent of 2,530 feet over a distance of 14.5 miles. The eastbound descent begins after entering the tunnel, where a reported 1.6% downgrade is encountered. After exiting the tunnel, the grade steepens to a reported 5% to 6% for 12 miles. About four miles east of the summit, the Loveland Pass/U.S. Highway 6 bypass traffic merges onto I-70. The descent is stepped with grades varying from 5% to 6%. There is a steep grade section 12.1 miles east of the summit, before the grade flattens in the area of Georgetown (the 228 milepost). However, there is a continued lesser descent to approximately the 243 milepost before an uphill transition is encountered at Floyd Hill.
SUMMIT
Pass Name:
Eisenhower Tunnel
Traversed by Highway:
I-70
Summit Elevation:
11,158 ft
Summit Conditions:
Large pullout area on east and west side of tunnel for westbound traffic. Large pullout area on west side of tunnel for eastbound traffic
Summit Milepost:
213.5
WESTBOUND DESCENT
Base Elevation:
8,795 ft
Vertical Distance:
2,363 ft
Base Milepost:
205
Driving Distance:
8.5 miles
Posted Speed Limit:
60 mph / Trucks over 15 tons, 30 mph
Steepest Reported Grade:
7% for 7 miles
Calculated Average Grade:
5.2% for 8.6 miles
Number of Lanes:
Three westbound
Runaway Ramps:
One on right at 1.9 miles west of summit. One on right at 4.8 miles west of summit.
Brake Check Stations:
One on west side of tunnel
ELEVATIONS
Mile Marker
Elevation
Change in Elevation
Percent Grade
213.5
11,158 ft.
213
10,984 ft.
174 ft.
6.5%
212
10,666 ft.
318 ft.
6.0%
211
10,331 ft.
335 ft.
6.3%
210
10,012 ft.
319 ft.
6.0%
209
9,707 ft.
305 ft.
5.7%
208
9,391 ft.
316 ft.
5.9%
207
9,097 ft.
294 ft.
5.5%
206
8,895 ft.
202 ft.
3.8%
205
8,795 ft.
100 ft.
1.8%
RECOMMENDED SPEEDS FROM THE GRADE SEVERITY RATING SYSTEM
MAXIMUM TRUCK WEIGHT (POUNDS)
MAXIMUM SAFE SPEED (MPH)
BRAKE TEMP FROM DECLINE (°F)
BRAKE TEMP FROM EMERGENCY STOP (°F)
TOTAL BRAKE TEMP. (°F)
TOTAL TRAVEL TIME (MIN.)
80,000
18
480
8
488
18.3
75,000
22
481
11
492
15.0
70,000
29
478
18
496
11.4
65,000
32
476
20
496
10.3
60,000
59
434
64
498
5.6
55,000
60
382
61
443
5.5
*These speeds are based on an average grade from the summit to the base. Some grade segments may be steeper than the average and require a slower speed.
Eisenhower Pass Tunnel Westbound
EASTBOUND DESCENT
Base Elevation:
8,628 ft
Vertical Distance:
2,530 ft
Base Milepost:
228
Driving Distance:
14.5 miles
Posted Speed Limit:
65 mph / Trucks over 35,000 lbs, 45 mph
Steepest Reported Grade:
5% and 6% for 12 miles
Calculated Average Grade:
3.3% for 14.5 miles
Number of Lanes:
Two eastbound
Brake Check Stations:
One on west side of tunnel
ELEVATIONS
Mile Marker
Elevation
Change in Elevation
Percent Grade
213.5
11,158 ft.
216
10,870 ft.
288 ft.
2.1%
217
10,612 ft.
258 ft.
4.8%
218
10,408 ft.
204 ft.
3.8%
219
10,242 ft.
166 ft.
3.1%
220
10,071 ft.
171 ft.
3.2%
221
9,858 ft.
213 ft.
4.0%
222
9,750 ft.
108 ft.
2.0%
223
9,598 ft.
152 ft.
2.8%
224
9,476 ft.
122 ft.
2.3%
225
9,302 ft.
174 ft.
3.2%
226
9,165 ft.
137 ft.
2.5%
227
8,887 ft.
278 ft.
5.2%
228
8,628 ft.
259 ft.
4.9%
229
8,558 ft.
70 ft.
1.3%
230
8,418 ft.
140 ft.
2.6%
231
8,364 ft.
54 ft.
1.0%
232
8,293 ft.
71 ft.
1.3%
233
8,184 ft.
109 ft.
2.0%
234
8,072 ft.
112 ft.
2.1%
RECOMMENDED SPEEDS FROM THE GRADE SEVERITY RATING SYSTEM
MAXIMUM TRUCK WEIGHT (POUNDS)
MAXIMUM SAFE SPEED (MPH)
BRAKE TEMP FROM DECLINE (°F)
BRAKE TEMP FROM EMERGENCY STOP (°F)
TOTAL BRAKE TEMP. (°F)
TOTAL TRAVEL TIME (MIN.)
80,000
37
462
34
496
23.5
75,000
45
380
98
478
13.4
*These speeds are based on an average grade from the summit to the base. Some grade segments may be steeper than the average and require a slower speed.
