CDOT sees winter coming a mile away

Here’s how we’re ready to keep Coloradans safe and roadways open

A CDOT employee monitors traffic, roadway incidents and weather at CDOT’s operations center in Golden, CO

By: Stacia Sellers, CDOT Strategic Communications Lead, Major Projects and Operations
Jan. 15, 2025

Despite a mild start, winter is here in Colorado. And the Colorado Department of Transportation is fully prepared and has been since last spring. Our goal is to keep roads safe. We are doing this with better staffing, new technology, and strong partnerships.

We also want to remind drivers and freight operators how you can help keep roads safe when it snows. So whether you're heading from Denver to Colorado ski resorts from now until April or keeping an eye on I-25 from Colorado Springs to Fort Collins, read on. We hope to put your mind at ease.

Staffing Success

CDOT has worked hard to solve the shortage of snow plow operators and highway maintainers. They have reduced vacancy rates from 37% in winter 2022 to only 10 to 12% by early October 2024.

This achievement comes from recruitment initiatives like hiring fairs, workforce housing and CDL training programs. Berthoud Pass and the Eisenhower Johnson Memorial Tunnels are now fully staffed. This is the first time in over ten years.

To learn more about CDOT jobs, visit our Division of Maintenance and Operations homepage.

Berthoud Pass Operations

Berthoud Pass is a critical road on US 40. Last winter, it had big snow slides. These slides greatly affected the nearby communities. This year, CDOT is deploying crews 24 hours before major storms, introducing an eco-friendly deicer, and keeping teams on-site around the clock to clear snow and prevent road closures.

CDOT Colorado Avalanche Operations video

Eisenhower Johnson Memorial Tunnels

Winter traffic moving smoothly through the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel

With 6.1 million vehicles passing through the EJMT during the last winter season, CDOT has installed a new de-icing system to prevent slick conditions. This system sprays deicer at tunnel entry points, ensuring safer travel.

A dedicated plow truck will also keep the tunnel entrances clear. A new, high-tech operations center will improve response efforts. This will help reduce closures that currently cost Colorado’s economy up to $1.6 million each hour.

I-70 Mountain Corridor

CDOT will continue to use its “surge” strategy this winter. We will send more teams and equipment to heavily impacted parts of I-70 during heavy storms. This will help keep traffic moving.

Resource shifts will also help major highways like US 40 and CO 9. This will keep operations steady during busy winter travel times.

Before and After the Storm: CDOT Traffic Incident Management video

Workforce Housing and CDL Training

To keep our maintenance staff for the long term, CDOT is adding workforce housing in important mountain areas. We’re leading projects to build new homes in Fairplay, Frisco and Basalt. Since 2021, CDOT’s Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training program has trained almost 200 drivers. This program helps provide skilled snowplow operators for winter work.

Real-Time Information for Travelers

CDOT’s COtrip.org and COtrip Planner app are now in “winter mode.” They provide real-time updates on road conditions, closures, Colorado plow locations and weather alerts. This user-friendly platform ensures motorists have all the information they need for safe travel.

Go with COtrip instructional video

For more COtrip tutorials, visit our COtrip YouTube playlist. Be the first to know about winter travel alerts and news by signing up for text alerts.

What Can You Do to Stay Safe (and Legal) this Winter?

Winter travel tips for motorists:

Avoid or limit driving during the brunt of the storm.
If you plan to travel, know before you go by checking out the latest weather conditions and visiting COtrip.org for road conditions (review info sources below). App and web users can also check live traffic camera footage along planned routes.
Ensure your vehicle is winter-ready with the appropriate tires and a snow emergency kit.
Once you are out on the road, take it slow, no sudden stops and leave plenty of following distance.
Give plows space! Stay back three to four car lengths from snowplows.

From Sept. 1 to May 31, the Traction Law remains active on the I-70 Mountain Corridor from Dotsero to Morrison. Colorado’s Passenger Vehicle Traction Law says all drivers must have at least 3/16 inch tread depth on their tires. They also need to have at least one of the following:

4WD or AWD vehicle
Tires with mud and snow designation (M+S icon)
Winter tires (mountain snowflake icon)
Tires with an all-weather rating by the manufacturer
Chains or approved traction device

People in Colorado should also know about the Tandem Snowplow Law. This law makes it illegal to pass a group of snowplows driving in tandem formation. This means the plows are arranged diagonally across multiple lanes of traffic. Violating the law is a Class A traffic offense and can result in fines.

Drivers in Colorado must now move over or slow down for any vehicle on the side of the road. This is part of the enhanced Move Over Law. The law aims to protect people and their vehicles on the roadside.

Drivers must move left for police and emergency responders on the roadside. Now, they also need to move over when passing disabled vehicles. This applies when the vehicle's hazard lights are flashing. If you can’t move over, the law requires drivers to slow down to 20 mph.

For more resources on winter driving in Colorado, visit CDOT’s Winter Driving page.

Colorado State Patrol “Slow down, move over” video

For more details on CDOT’s winter preparedness, visit the Division of Maintenance and Operations website.

About the Author:

Picture of Stacia Sellers, CDOT Strategic Communications Lead, Major Projects and Operations — Stacia Sellers was born and raised in Colorado and works to tell the stories of CDOT’s Division of Maintenance and Operations and the state’s major transportation projects.