CDOT Warns Of 'Worsening Road Conditions' Across Colorado
DENVER (CBS4) - A powerful spring snowstorm continues to pound Colorado, and road conditions across the state are slick and wet and expected to get icy.
The Colorado Department of Transportation on Thursday afternoon warned drivers in Denver to try to leave work early and to avoid driving overnight.
Heavy, wet snow has been falling across the mountains and in many areas of the Front Range since the early morning hours, and many drivers have been experiencing visibility issues. In the Denver metro area, the roads have been mostly just wet and slushy, but they are expected to freeze up starting at about 7 p.m. as temperatures drop.
Approximately 100 snowplows have been deployed to battle the snowstorm in the metro area. And more than 20 plows are working the Interstate 70 mountain corridor, where snow has been falling at a pace of approximately an inch per hour.
Some safety closures have been affecting I-70 travelers on Thursday and CDOT warned in a call with the media that more closures could be coming.
Interstate 25 at Monument Hill south of Denver was also described as an area where safety closures could be put into place due to the conditions. Highway 36 between Lyons and Estes Park was another trouble area -- the highway was closed for several hours in the middle of the day.
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CDOT officials said some truck drivers haven't been putting chains on their tires in areas where it's required. They also said some drivers of vehicles in the mountains have tires that don't have adequate tread for the slick roads.
They also warned drivers to keep their speeds down statewide and to give snowplows plenty of room.
Check the CBSDenver.com Traffic section for the most up-to-date road conditions.
