WINTER PARK, Colo. (CBS4)- Avalanche control work shut down Highway 40 over Berthoud Pass for a while on Thursday.

Crews with the Colorado Department of Transportation worked to clear the snow slide from the highway after they conducted avalanche control work around 8:30 a.m.

The highway was closed for about three hour during the cleanup of the snow slide.

There were a total of four chutes in the area called the Stanley chute. All but one managed to reach the road but were easily cleaned up.

Crews regularly trigger avalanches in that area to prevent spontaneous avalanches from happening and possibly putting lives at risk.