CDOT Prepares For Flash Freeze On Colorado Roads
GOLDEN, Colo. (CBS4) - The Colorado Department of Transportation is preparing for a flash freeze that could cause dangerous road conditions.
The CDOT Traffic Operations Center in Golden was on "snow desk" mode Friday afternoon as workers monitored weather conditions across the state in an effort to stay ahead of the storm.
CDOT crews prepped hundreds of plows for de-icing duty, and pre-treated roads with de-icing chemicals.
Plows were out on the roads in anticipation of a storm moving from South to North across Colorado, paired with an extreme and rapid drop in temperatures.
When flash-freezing occurs, drivers often have little warning.
"People can be driving along, and then all of a sudden the road freezes over from one moment to the next, and then the next thing you know, you have accidents, people slipping and sliding, and cars going sideways," said Bob Wilson, a spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Transportation.
Wilson said the agency would do whatever was necessary to keep commuters safe.
"If we see too many cars on the road going into what we consider a hazardous condition, like on I-25 over Monument Hill, we will stop traffic before people can get into that area," Wilson said.
Slippery stretches along the mountain corridor had already prompted the closure of Vail Pass Friday morning.
Closures in the eastern plains were possible due to high winds and low visibility.
Freezing temperatures were projected to last throughout the weekend, causing roads to remain slick.
Some holiday shoppers planned to avoid icy roads and stay home.
"We're running around right now so that we don't have to go out tonight and for the next couple of days, because it's going to get cold," one shopper said.
De-icing agents, including CDOT's new brine salt mixture, contain anti-corrosive agents to help prevent rusting.
Officials, however, advised drivers to wash their cars after storms in order to rinse off chemicals that could contribute to rusting, especially in older cars.
Melissa Garcia has been reporting for CBS4 News since March 2014. Find her bio here, follow her on Twitter @MelissaGarciaTV, or send your story idea to mkgarcia@cbs.com.
