DENVER — The first major winter storm of the season on its way to Colorado and transportation departments are preparing.
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) said Coloradans should plan their travel with the weekend's winter weather in mind.
With snow totals as high as 17 inches forecast for Colorado’s central mountains, CDOT said travelers in the high country should have winter tires installed or be ready to install traction devices on personal vehicles or chains on trucks.
Travelers should check COtrip.org for the latest road conditions from Friday through Monday.
“Winter is coming! During the first major storm of the season, it’s important for everyone to make sure they are ready — including factoring forecasts into weekend travel, taking it slow when winter conditions pick up, and ensuring that your car is equipped with snow tires," said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. "Be aware of the road and be extra careful because many drivers haven’t yet readjusted to driving in snowy conditions.”
CDOT said a temporary safety closure for Colorado Highway 82 Independence Pass will go into place at noon on Friday. Closure gates are located near Aspen and Twin Lakes.
The alternate route from the Denver area to Aspen is via westbound Interstate 70 to Glenwood Springs, then CO 82 to Aspen.
Crews will reevaluate road conditions once the storm passes. The road will reopen once weather has improved and the road is safely cleared of snow and ice. Independence Pass usually closes in November for the winter season, CDOT said.
CDOT said all hands will be on deck in the Denver area this weekend Area will have all hands on deck, with full staff and 95 snow plows ready to respond to the storm.
CDOT will also have 30 plows will be along the Interstate 70 mountain corridor to the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels.
Snow showers and blowing snow with poor visibility could make for hazardous driving conditions beginning Saturday night in the higher elevations.
In southeastern Colorado, snow is anticipated to begin Saturday night through Sunday morning in the Colorado Springs area and at higher elevations including Monument Hill, La Veta and Raton passes. Snow accumulation is expected to be light, but CDOT said drivers should expect some windy conditions and wet roads.
The northeast part of the state is similar to the southeast. Snow starts late Saturday but accumulations of four to six inches are expected through most of the I-25 corridor. Full snow crews in 168 plows will be on hand to handle drifts, CDOT said.
FORECAST: Full forecast
CLOSURES: Full list of closures
ALERTS: Latest Colorado weather alerts
Winter travel tips for motorists
- Avoid or limit driving during the brunt of the storm. Many areas of the state will experience pavement impacts and blowing snow due to strong winds.
- If you plan to travel, know before you go by checking out the latest weather conditions and visiting COtrip.org for road conditions (see info sources below).
- Make sure your vehicle is winter ready with the appropriate tires for the weather and have 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 snow plows.
Know before you go and check out COtrip.org for the latest road conditions.
Keep up with the latest road conditions here:
Colorado chain and traction laws
The CDOT urged 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 comply 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.
Safety closures
According to CDOT, a safety closure is a precaution taken during inclement weather to reduce the probability of traffic incidents, increased congestion or other safety-related factors.
During a safety closure, traffic may be stopped on the interstate, turned around or directed to an exit. Safety closures help decrease delay times, and, above all, keep travelers safe.
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