CDOT Ready for Round Two
COLORADO SPRINGS – Coming off last weekend’s snowstorm, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) maintenance crews are ready for another round of winter weather in southeastern and south-central Colorado through the weekend.
“We’ve had a couple days to let our people rest up, restock solid and liquid deicers and get some repairs done to our plow trucks so it was a timely break,” said CDOT Maintenance Superintendent Adam Padilla. “We’re again reminding drivers to be prepared for driving in adverse weather, such as making sure you have adequate tires for traveling through snow, knowing what kind of weather to expect, and driving appropriately for conditions, such as driving slower when the snow’s flying or the roads are icy.”
A total of 152 snowplows will be deployed throughout southeastern Colorado, distributed as follows:
Pueblo Maintenance Area
Currently on Snow Shift (Crews alternate 12 hours on/12 hours off) 35 snowplows on duty.
Colorado Springs Maintenance Area
Snow Shift begins at noon. 32 snowplows on duty.
La Junta Maintenance Area
Snow Shift begins at noon. 17 snowplows on duty.
Trinidad Maintenance Area
Currently on Snow Shift. 19 snowplows on duty.
Lamar Maintenance Area
Snow Shift begins at midnight. 22 snowplows on duty.
Fairplay Maintenance Area
Currently on Snow Shift. 24 snowplows on duty.
“I also want to reiterate that when we’re plowing three lanes at one time, with a plow in each lane [echelon plowing], don’t pass the plows,” added Padilla. “They’re effectively clearing the roadway all at once to make it safer for the traveling public. Trying to pass the plows makes it unsafe for everyone.”
Echelon plowing operations can be encountered in the Colorado Springs and Pueblo areas.
WINTER TRAVEL TIPS:
Ø Log on to CDOT’s Winter Driving web page at: http://www.codot.info/
Ø Be sure you have good snow tires. How do you know if you need new snow tires? Insert a quarter into the tire tread upside down, with Washington’s head going in first; if the top of George’s head is covered by the tread, your tires are OK (do this test in multiple points around each tire.) If the top of his head is visible at any point, you need new tires.
Ø Always keep the top half of your gas tank full. It can give you better traction and gives you a bigger margin of error if you get stuck and have to keep the engine running periodically to keep warm.
Ø If you are stuck in a serious storm do not leave your car. Run the engine periodically and wait for help.
Ø Carry blankets, water, a flashlight, a shovel, some nutrition bars or other food for sustenance. Winterize your vehicle's safety kit by including extra blankets, sand to help gain traction in the event you become stuck on ice or snow, jumper cables, an ice scraper and lock deicer.
Ø Remember that 4-wheel drive does not mean 4-wheel stop. A 4-wheel drive vehicle will not stop any better in icy conditions, especially if you have inadequate snow tires.
Ø Know the chain laws. Chain restrictions in Colorado are most often put into effect for commercial vehicles (semi-trailer trucks) and do not usually affect passenger vehicles.
Ø Drive for the conditions. In poor visibility or even whiteout conditions, don't drive faster than you can see ahead. High speeds in poor or no visibility can lead to large chain reaction accidents.
Ø In addition to these winter driving tips, CDOT reminds all motorists to respect winter weather, conduct a pre-trip inspection of your vehicle, and leave extra space between your automobile and others on the road (including plow trucks). Of course, always buckle up!
