CDOT monitoring Interstate 25 in Monument Hill, and Southeast Colorado amidst snowstorm
MONUMENT, Colo. (KRDO) - The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) says they're preparing for varying amounts of snowfall within southern Colorado, as the snow event which began Wednesday morning, is expected to continue through Friday.
CDOT says that based on current forecasts, they're anticipating the snowfall in northern El Paso County, and the I-25 gap between Monument and Castle Rock, to be manageable enough for their plow crews.
"We've got 20 plows in the El Paso County area out there working. Even when the snowflakes aren't falling, they're monitoring pavement temperatures and ensuring that they're there to scoop up the snow when it starts." said Amber Shipley, a spokesperson for CDOT.
She says that the closure of a major highway like Interstate 25, is mostly at the discretion of their drivers, who consider the level of snowpack on the road, roadway temperatures, and visibility.
Road conditions on I-25 earlier Wednesday afternoon, prompting nearly two dozen truck drivers to pull over just before the exit to the Town of Monument, strapping chains onto their tires.
Gene Freeman, a driver with Freeman Transport based out of Denver, said that it took him about 3.5 hours on Wednesday morning to make a delivery from Denver to Colorado Springs.
He said that on the way back up to Denver, he also saw some slow-downs before pulling over.
"There was an accident, a couple of accidents. This was stopped not too long ago. So it was slow even just to get to the chain zone." said Freeman.
CDOT says that these types of weather events warrant constant evaluation, but add that a total closure is their last resort. They clarified, however, that if crews feel it is not safe, or drivers could get stranded, that is when they opt for a closure.
Shipley says that conditions near Monument Hill will likely be slick and icy, with snowpack on the ground, but their plow crews are expected to be able to clean up the snowfall from Wednesday into Thursday morning. The same is expected for the snowfall from Thursday into Friday.
State officials did say however, that stretches of I-25 south of Walsenburg, and headed towards the Raton Pass, are going to be hard-hit, with the potential for a closure of the interstate as "highly likely". CDOT says that forecasts right now show upwards of 19 to 20 inches in south & eastern Colorado.
CDOT says that kind of storm could lead to a closure being the safest option for drivers in the region. Hypothetically, they said a closure would start up near Pueblo, that way motorists aren’t stuck in a more remote area by driving any further south, without any places to stay or seek services.
