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Drivers Should Prepare For Snowy Mountain Roads

By Matt Kroschel

SUMMIT COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - Drivers traveling into the High Country should prepare for snowy and icy conditions on the roadways.

The Interstate 70 Mountain Corridor Control Room is buzzing with activity inside the Eisenhower Tunnel as they anticipate more snow over the next few days.

Patrick Chavez, the Colorado Department of Transportation Mountain Corridor Manager, says drivers need to be prepared for icy and snowpacked conditions with six to 12 inches anticipated to accumulate over the next 48 hours.

CDOT TIRE PROGRAM snow tires
(credit: CBS)

CDOT will enact the passenger chain and traction laws as soon as roads become difficult for travelers. Last year, CDOT started a major publicity campaign to get drivers to realize they need the right tires.

They believe the message is working.

"Really think the word is getting out," Chavez told CBS4's Matt Kroschel. "People are starting to understand they need to have good tread when they are coming up to the mountains."

Additional Information From CDOT: 

1) Traveling to the mountains? Make sure you have tires that are compliant with passenger vehicle Traction Laws and Chain Laws.

Traction Law — Motorists will need snow tires, tires with mud/snow (M/S) designation, or a four-wheel drive vehicle — all tires must have a minimum one-eighth inch tread.

Passenger Vehicle Chain Law — Every vehicle on the roadway must have chains or an alternative traction devices (like AutoSock).

Without proper equipment, you can be fined $130. If your vehicle blocks the roadway, you could be fined more than $650.

2) KNOW BEFORE YOU GO! Check out cotrip.org to track our plows and for road conditions and closure information. If snow accumulations start exceeding an inch an hour, it gets to be more volume than our plows can keep up with and we may need to implement safety closures.

Matt Kroschel covers news throughout Colorado working from the CBS4 Mountain Newsroom. Send story ideas to mrkroschel@cbs.com and connect with him on Twitter @Matt_Kroschel.

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