Winter Weather Moving in to Front Range and Mountain Corridor
Crews along the Front Range are on full snow shift and will remain on snow shift throughout the storm. The Denver Metro Area has over 100 snow plows on the roads and the entire Front Range has roughly 300 plows out in full force patrolling and dispersing anti-icing and de-icing products. Winter weather continues along the I-70 Mountain Corridor and several closures are in place due to multiple accidents and spin outs. Crews are working hard to clear the roadways but with heavy rain falling in some places over the last 24 hours roads are icy and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) wants to remind folks to drive cautiously and according to conditions.
Crews are currently on full snow shift throughout the mountain corridor and along the Front Range and they will continue to apply a combination of liquid and solid de-icing and anti-icing products. The recent warm temperatures and fast dropping current temperatures accompanied by thick, wet snow is creating icy conditions on many roadways. Motorists are encouraged to drive according to conditions, allow for extra time and to expect black ice conditions on roadways. Snow is expected to continue through the night and most of tomorrow. Roads are expected to remain icy for the morning commute.
Snow plow safety is an important part of driving in adverse conditions. Motorists traveling behind snow plows should remain a minimum of five car lengths behind the plow. Snow plows have limited visibility and often cannot see vehicles traveling too closely behind them. When plows are removing snow and ice from the roadways, whiteout conditions can occur for vehicles traveling too close to the plow. Allow plows to work at a safe distance from vehicles and use extreme caution when passing snow plows. Snow plow operators are maintaining the roads for the safety of the traveling public and their main objective is to remove snow and ice from the roadways to ensure vehicles can arrive safely at their destinations.
Crews will utilize a method of plowing known as echelon plowing for many major roadways. Echelon plowing is when snow plows line up at an angle along the roadway and plow in a line. This method of plowing allows crews to remove maximum amounts of snow and ice from the roadway in an even fashion and in a shorter period of time. CDOT does not recommend passing the plows when this is occurring.
To receive real-time updates about road conditions in your area, visit www.coloradodot.info and click on the green cell phone icon in the upper right hand corner of the page. Information about weekly lane closures will be available at www.coloradodot.info/travel/scheduled-lane-closures.html. Live road conditions are available at www.cotrip.org, downloading the CDOT Mobile app or by calling 511 from anywhere in the state. Updates are also available via Twitter @coloradodot and be sure to “Like” our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/coloradodot.
