DENVER — Winter-driving season has arrived in Colorado, and there are new rules for truckers.
This past year, the Colorado legislature voted to expand areas covered by the state's existing state chain laws under Senate Bill 24-100. The law went into effect Aug. 7.
Under the new law, from Sept. 1 to May 31, all commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) over 16,000 pounds must carry four snow chains or adequate alternate traction devices on their trucks if they are using any of the following roads:
- I-70 west of milepost 259 (Morrison)
- Colorado Hwy. 9 milepost 63 to milepost 97 (Frisco to Fairplay)
- Route 40 west of milepost 256 (Empire)
- U.S. Route 50 west of milepost 225 (Salida)
- U.S. Route 160 west of MP 250 (Morrison)
- U.S. Route 550 from milepost 0 to 130 (State line south of Durango to Montrose)
The law previously required truckers to carry chains on Interstate 70 between Dotsero and Morrison.
In addition to expanding the areas where truckers are required to carry chains, there are new lane restrictions for CMVs. Truckers cannot use the left lane:
- In Glenwood Canyon
- In Dowd Junction (The curvy section of I-70 between Avon and Vail)
- The west side of Vail Pass
- The tunnel grade on both sides of the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnels
- Georgetown Hill
- Floyd Hill
CMV drivers should go to freight.colorado.gov and cotrip.org to prepare for their trip and ensure they are in compliance.
