COLORADO, USA — The latest winter cold front created a very slick and messy commute in many areas of Colorado Tuesday morning.
As of 11 a.m., Denver International Airport, the city's official measuring site, recorded 5 inches. Heavier amounts fell in the foothills to the west of Denver.
Colorado State Patrol (CSP) said around 1:20 p.m. that northbound Interstate 25 was closed between Meadows Parkway and Castle Pines Parkway due to multiple crashes. Just after 2 p.m., northbound I-25 was back open.
CDOT said just before 11 a.m. that westbound Interstate 70 was closed between Limon and the Kansas border due to safety concerns.
U.S. 285 was also closed between C-470 near Lakewood and Parmalee Gulch Road near Morrison due to a crash and safety concerns, but has reopened, according to CDOT.
South Metro Fire Rescue said crews responded to multiple crashes, including a three-vehicle collision just before 9 a.m. on Ridgegate Parkway east of Peoria.
9NEWS Meteorologist Chris Bianchi said that the heaviest snow began moving through Denver around 7:45 a.m., and warned drivers to avoid the roads if possible.
Heavy snow continued to move through the metro area until around 10 a.m., and most accumulating snow stopped between noon and 2 p.m.
Multiple jurisdictions were on Accident Alert including Denver, Aurora, Arvada, Thornton, Westminster, Lakewood, Commerce City, Fort Collins, Lone Tree, Loveland, Castle Rock and Douglas County.
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Keep up with the latest road conditions here:
Denver International Airport flight delays
Denver International Airport experienced delays due to the weather, and travelers were advised to check the status of the flights.
DIA reported more than 120 canceled flights as of 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
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.
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