Preparing for the next storm in El Paso County

The weather was nice Monday morning, but snow was falling by the afternoon in parts of the Pikes Peak Region.

Even though the snow didn’t stick at first, it’s expected to as the night goes on.

While the Colorado Department of Transportation takes care of major highways like U.S. 24, the roads on either side of the highway in Ute Pass are the responsibility of El Paso County crews.

The plow truck were lined up and ready to go when accumulation begins to build up on the roads.

Because of the last storm many of the trucks needed routine maintenance work to keep them in good condition.

Crews anticipate trouble when the temperature drops and the wet roads turn to ice.

“It’s been warm so it’s going to melt initially but as temperatures drop and the evening sets in it starts freezing and that causes hazardous conditions,” said Troy Wiitala, the highway manager for El Paso County.

Wiitala says they may go to a full call out, which would involve 30 trucks.