Adverse Conditions Force CDOT To Close Loveland Pass
LOVELAND PASS, Colo. (CBS4) - Loveland Pass had to be closed more than eight hours on Sunday because of snowy roads.
Most of the day the snow wasn't accumulating on the road but as dusk approached the snow started to pile up. Above the road closure and above tree line the wind and snow made for adverse conditions, and that's what originally closed the road.
With about a foot of new snow accumulating around the area the threat of avalanches is something the Colorado Department of Transportation had to deal with Monday before they could open the road.
It's the most avalanche prone highway in the country and the "Avalauncher" accident that injured two state workers a few weeks ago still has that part of the avalanche mitigation program shut down.
CDOT has been working with two options -- dropping massive bombs out of a helicopter or they have an old howitzer from the Army. The problem with the helicopter is it's expensive and needs good weather to fly.
There's a chance of snow in the forecast for the next week up at higher elevations, and Loveland Pass certainly wasn't alone with traffic issues. Vail Pass was closed for about 2 hours Sunday evening because of a plethora of accidents.
