Snow affects Colorado Springs area for second straight day

A band of heavy snow fell in part of Colorado Springs on Monday evening, 24 hours after the first snowfall from the latest winter storm.

Rush-hour traffic slowed to a crawl on Interstate 25 between Woodmen Road and Interquest Parkway. Several vehicle slide-offs were reported, as slick roads and limited visibility made driving difficult.

Local road crews said they weren’t expecting much snow Monday night, but would have crews on patrol to respond when and where needed.

Snow that fell late Sunday evening quickly melted and caused no major issues, officials said.

Although major streets, roads, and highways were clear, many neighborhood streets were packed with snow and were icy. Among them was Buckeye Drive on the city’s northwest side.

“There’s a steep hill that connects to the traffic on busy Woodmen Road,” said one driver. “It’s hard to stop there. When I first moved here, it wasn’t as treacherous because the city put sand on it for traction.”

Several years ago, the city decided not to plow and treat side streets unless they were covered in at least 6 inches of snow.

But Jack Ladley, a city streets supervisor, said there are exceptions to the rule.

“We know there are some neighborhood streets that need our attention,” he said. “They may have hills, or not get enough sun to melt ice and snow, or they may have a four-way stop. We take care of those areas. We also take calls from citizens who want to point out trouble spots.”

El Paso County also responds to side streets occasionally.