DENVER (CBS4) – Crews with the Colorado Department of Transportation were fighting throughout the day Friday to keep ahead of the strong winter storm blasting the Front Range.
Interstate 70 was closed Friday morning in both directions from Airpark Road to Limon and the westbound closure extended all the way to Burlington. I-70 eastbound reopened from Limon to Kansas Friday evening.
Department spokeswoman Mindy Crane said in a public statement early Friday morning that there were approximately 80 snowplows out in the Denver metro area and another 200 or so across the Front Range.
Watch an interview with Crane in the video clip below:
“Roads across the entire Front Range, southwest Colorado and the central mountains are icy and snowpacked and high winds are making travel and snow removal difficult. As crews make a pass on the highway, the lane is quickly covered due to the steady snow and winds,” she wrote.
The following other highway closures were also in effect, as of 11 a.m.
- US 24 between Falcon (east of Colorado Springs) and Limon
- SH 86 between Kiowa and I-70
- US 36 between I-70 (Byers) and SH 71
- Northbound US 287 closed from Eads to Kit Carson
- US 40 between Kit Carson and Limon
- SH 71 between Last Chance through Limon to Ordway
- Westbound I-76 remains closed just east of Wiggins due to a jackknifed semi. No estimated time for reopening
Watch an interview about the road safety on Friday with Capt. Jeff Goodwin of the Colorado State Patrol in the video clip below:
“CDOT crews will continue to work around the clock through the snowstorm until the highways are clear of snow and ice,” Crane said.
LINK: cotrip.org
