Road Crews On Full Snow Patrol, Preparing For Blizzard
By Mark Taylor
DENVER (CBS4)- Road crews are on full snow patrol as they anticipate a major snowstorm blowing into Colorado. The Denver metro area is under a blizzard warning Monday night.
Denver Public Works spent the day outfitting trucks with plows in anticipation of heavy snowfall.
"We have 50 of our snow plows ready to go out now," Heather Burke with Denver Public Works said.
That number will jump up to 70 at midnight, or when the snow starts to accumulate. These crews will work on removing snow from Denver city streets with stripes. Burke said at this time this storm does not qualify for residential street snow removal. That requires at least 12 inches of snow forecast and sub-freezing temperatures.
Statewide, the Colorado Department of Transportation will have 750 snow removal machines on state highways.
"We are preparing for a statewide event," Amy Ford with CDOT said.
Crews have been working 12-hour shifts since 3 p.m. Monday and will continue until the weather event stops and the roads are clear.
CDOT also encourages drivers to pay attention to road conditions and requirements. Earlier this month CDOT warned drivers that they will start enforcing Code 15 and Code 16 laws. Code 15 requires drivers to have all passenger traffic traveling in the mountain corridor to have 4-wheel drive, snow tires or chains. Code 16 is enforced in extremely dangerous road conditions and requires all vehicles to have chains.
In Colorado, loss of traction or skidding off the road is the leading cause of delays on highways in the winter months.
"We will likely be implementing the traction law, (if you don't adhere) if you spin out you're eligible for a fine of up to $650, know before you go," Ford added.
According to Colorado State Patrol, as of Monday, zero traction law fines have been given to passenger cars.
Mark Taylor is a weekend morning anchor and reporter with CBS4 news covering a wide variety of stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkTaylor_TV.
