Upcoming Storm expected to Impact Morning Commute

February 10, 2020 - Denver Metro Area, Colorado

DENVER – The Colorado Department of Transportation is advising commuters to givethemselves additional time to reach their destination tomorrow morning due to additional snow accumulations and below freezing temperatures from the overnight storm.     

Motorists should check weather and road conditions before they travel.  If conditions are adverse, strong consideration should be given to working from home or delaying travel until later in the morning.

Snow amounts are expected to vary along the Interstate 25 corridor, from a trace in the northern part of the state, three to six inches in the I-25 South Gap area, and up to 10 inches around Walsenburg, Trinidad and Raton Pass.  Up to 15 inches of snow could fall in the Wet, Sangre de Cristo and San Juan mountain ranges.

DRIVING THE GAP & ELSEWHERE

  • Expect lowered speed limits
  • Go slow. Please do not speed.
  • Turn on your headlights, even during daylight hours.
  • Anticipate icy roads and drive with caution, especially on bridges and overpasses.
  • Leave plenty of space behind the vehicle in front of you.

Remember snowplows will be out in full force tonight, overnight and tomorrow.  Please do not pass the plows, especially on the right. 


KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts and anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:

CHAIN & TRACTION LAWS 

CDOT urges travelers to be aware of chain and traction law codes before heading out on the roadway.

  • Code 18/Commercial Chain Law: Commercial vehicles and trucks must have chains. Vehicles without chains can often lose traction, causing traffic delays and sometimes road closures. For the safety of the traveling public, it's critical to use chains to be in compliance with Colorado's chain law.
  • Code 15/Passenger Traction Law: All passenger vehicles must have appropriate all-weather tires with 3/16-inch depth. Vehicles must have one of the following: winter tires, tires with mud/snow (M+S) designation, chains or alternative traction devices such as an autosock. 4WD and AWD vehicles must have winter tires or all weather tires.
  • Code 16/Passenger Chain Law: All passenger vehicles need chains, except for 4WD and AWD vehicles with all-weather tires with 3/16-inch tread depth.

ADDITIONAL PIO CONTACTS

Matt Inzeo, Communications Director

240.381.7051 | [email protected] 

 

For Northwest/Western Slope 

Elise Thatcher, Region 3 Communications Manager

303.927.8299 Ι  [email protected]

For Northeast Colorado 

Jared Fiel, Region 4 Communications Manager

970.302.2846 Ι  [email protected]

 

For Southwest Colorado 

Lisa Schwantes, Region 5 Communications Manager

970.749-2015 Ι  [email protected]