Nearly 300 Snowplows Ready to Go to Work Throughout Colorado
As the first snow of the season approaches Colorado, residents and city officials are gearing up for what could potentially be a significant storm. The Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure has been closely monitoring the forecast all week and is now putting their preparation plans into action.
According to Nancy Kuhn with the Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, crews began preparation Friday night for 5 to 10 inches of snow fall throughout the weekend. With the possibility of accumulation, the city is equipped with liquid and granule materials to deice the streets and ensure safe driving conditions.
In addition to the city's efforts, the Colorado Department of Transportation is also ramping up their preparations in the high country.
90 plows will be stationed on interstates in the Denver metro area and an additional 30 plows will be focused specifically on the Interstate 70 corridor. 168 plows will also be on hand in the northeast part of the state.
Matt Inzeo with CDOT emphasized their readiness for the storm, saying, "We're ready to go and guys are just waiting for the flakes to fall." However, Inzeo also urged residents to take precautions while driving, especially in the high country where a temporary safety closure for Colorado Highway 82 (Independence Pass) is in place.
The closure gates near Aspen and Twin Lakes should act as a warning for travelers to take alternate routes, such as taking westbound I-70 to Glenwood Springs and then CO 82 to Aspen.
For those already in the high country, it is important to make sure their vehicles are equipped with snow tires or some sort of traction device like chains. CDOT recommends checking COtrip.org for the latest road conditions.
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As for the city of Denver, Kuhn assured residents that they are ready for whatever this winter storm may bring. "What we have is we have the trucks ready, the drivers ready, we have materials that we need and we're ready to go," Kuhn said.
Residents are urged to also be prepared for snowfall and to stay updated on any road closures or safety measures put in place.