Every hour the Interstate 70 mountain corridor is closed the state’s economy takes an almost $2 million hit, according to Colorado Department of Transportation Executive Director Shoshana Lew.

But that’s only part of the reason why the opening of a new, updated operations center at the Eisenhower Johnson Memorial Tunnels — where I-70 crosses beneath the Continental Divide — is so important to the transportation department as winter approaches.

“Not only do closures delay important deliveries and transportation of goods, it also has a real impact on the livelihood of our travelers, which cannot be summed up by a figure,” Lew said in a Nov. 7 news release.

The upgraded technology, including installation of fiber optic cables and new cameras and screens, will reportedly help improve response times and safety. The project also included replacing decades-old copper wire at the operation center, the release states.

Read more at summitdaily.com.

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