Summer traffic season begins tomorrow

Due to heavier-than-normal amounts of snow this winter and spring, the opening of most seasonal roadways will be delayed:

Scheduled to Open Friday, May 24

• Guanella Pass between Georgetown and Grant

DELAYED OPENING

• CO 5 – Mount Evans
• CO 82 over Independence Pass between Twin Lakes and Aspen
  Scheduled to open in early June
• Trail Ridge Road between Estes Park and Grand Lake (Rocky Mountain National Park)
• Kebler Pass in the Crested Butte area
  Scheduled to open late May or early June
• Cottonwood Pass between Buena Vista and Gunnison County
  Scheduled to open Saturday, June 22

All of these roadways remain open through the summer, weather permitting. For the current status of a seasonal roadway, please check COtrip.org, or call 511.

Be safe; be prepared for spring driving conditions.

1. Watch for potholes. Winter’s freeze/thaw cycle weather can damage roadways, including the creation of potholes.  Spring rain also can make them difficult to see.  And they can damage your vehicle, requiring expensive repairs. Keep a safe following distance in case the driver in front of you reacts unpredictably. Avoid swerving if you can to avoid a pothole.
2. Slow down for spring showers. Roads become slick when it first begins to rain because rainwater mixes with road contaminants, like as oil and grease.  Increase your following distance to allow for proper braking.
3. Watch for pedestrians and bikes. Warmer temperatures mean more people are outside walking or bicycling.  Slow down and pay extra attention at crosswalks and along roadways.
4. Share the road with motorcycles.  Motorcycles may quickly come in and out of your blind spots due to their speed and size. Always take a second look with more motorcycles out on the road.
5. Animals are on the move. Animal activity increases during the spring, either due to mating season or because they are waking up from winter hibernation.  Deer are most active at dawn and dusk.
6. Maintain proper tire air pressure.  Tires lose air due to the cold winter temperatures and now can be underinflated.  Warmer temperatures can cause tires to be overinflated.
7. Inspect your tires. Adequate tire tread is important for safe driving in wet weather because the tread moves water away from the tire.  Less tread means reduced traction.

Whole System, Whole Safety

To heighten safety awareness, CDOT recently announced its Whole System, Whole Safety initiative. This project takes a systematic statewide approach to safety combining the benefits of CDOT’s programs that address driving behavior, our built environment and the organization's operations. The goal is to improve the safety of Colorado's transportation network by reducing the rate and severity of crashes and improving safety conditions for those traveling by all transportation modes. The program has one simple mission: to get everyone home safely.