CDOT Set to Battle the Winter Ahead

November 20, 2012 – ICE & SNOW, TAKE IT SLOW! Southeastern Colorado/CDOT Region 2 – COLORADO SPRINGS – With the start of the holiday season around the corner and the beginning of winter a few weeks away, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) publicized its adverse weather maintenance plans for southeastern Colorado. 

“Keeping our highways clear of snow and ice during every snow event can be challenging, but we have very dedicated and well-trained employees who help keep our highways open and passable even during the worst of conditions,” said CDOT Executive Director Don Hunt.  “While our crews do their best to battle Mother Nature, we need your help as a motorist to keep our highways safe.  Slow down when driving on wet or snowy roads and near snow plows.”

CDOT’s statewide snow and ice maintenance budget is $60.9 million.  Region Two – which includes all of southeastern Colorado – is budgeted at $9.2 million, and includes 202 maintenance employees.  In addition, 143 pieces of equipment are used, including 38 plows that apply liquid and solid de-icers, to maintain 4,779 highway lane miles, including 949 bridges. 

LAMAR MAINTENANCE AREA

Primarily covers Prowers, Baca and Kiowa counties, and a small segment of Bent County.
32 workers; 24 plow trucks; five used to apply liquid deicers.
DeIcers applied: U.S. 50 & U.S.287 through Lamar; U.S. 287 through Springfield; U.S. 287 & State Highway 96 through Eads. 

LA JUNTA MAINTENANCE AREA

Primarily covers Crowley, Otero and Bent counties, and segments of Las Animas, Pueblo and Kiowa counties.
27 workers; 19 plow trucks; four used to apply liquid deicers.
DeIcers applied: U.S. 50 between Fowler and Hadley Park.
During winter of 2011/2012, plowed 48,017 total miles, sprayed 77,054 gallons of liquid de-icer, spread 989 tons of sand/salt and Ice Slicer and spent 4,194 labor hours in snow removal-type activities. 

TRINIDAD MAINTENANCE AREA

Primarily covers Las Animas and Huerfano counties, and a small segment of Pueblo County.
31 workers; 22 plow trucks; nine used to apply liquid deicers.
DeIcers applied: I-25 between Colorado/New Mexico state line and Mile 59 (north of Walsenburg)
During winter of 2011/2012, plowed 167,860 total miles, sprayed 372,821 gallons of liquid deicer, spread 17,088 tons of sand/salt and Ice Slicer and spent 13,171 labor hours in snow removal-type activities. 

During winter of 2011/2012, plowed 73,302 total miles, sprayed 67,846 gallons of liquid deicer, spread 1,942 tons of sand/salt and Ice Slicer and spent 6,204 labor hours in snow removal-type activities.

Drivers can access current information on road and weather conditions by viewing thewww.cotrip.org Web site or by calling 511.  Up-to-date information also is available by subscribing for e-mail or text messages. Sign up by visiting www.coloradodot.info, clicking the cell-phone icon in the upper right corner and checking geographic areas of interest.  It is free of charge but standard text message rates do apply.  Updates also are available via Twitter @coloradodot and on CDOT’s Facebook page atwww.facebook.com/coloradodot.

Other winter travel tips include:

Logging onto CDOT’s Winter Driving web page at: www.coloradodot.info/travel/winter-driving for additional information. 

Not passing plow trucks on the right.  Also, a plow blade may be extended, making it unsafe.  Drive slowly and let the plow clear the road for you. 

Always keeping the top half of your gas tank full. It can give you better traction and gives you a bigger margin of error if you get stuck and have to keep the engine running periodically to keep warm.

If you are stuck in a serious storm, do not leave your car. Run the engine periodically and wait for help. Make sure the tailpipe is clear of snow and ice. 

Carrying blankets, water, a flashlight, a shovel, some nutrition bars or other food for sustenance. Winterize your vehicle’s safety kit by including extra blankets, sand to help gain traction in the event you become stuck on ice or snow, jumper cables, an ice scraper and lock de-icer. 

Remembering 4-wheel drive does not mean 4-wheel stop. A 4-wheel drive vehicle will not stop any better in icy conditions, especially if you have inadequate snow tires.

Being sure of your route. Don’t go exploring in the back-country without some local knowledge, especially during a storm or when one is bearing down anywhere near your location. 

Being sure you have good tires. The Colorado State Patrol recommends at least 1/8 of an inch tread depth. Chain restrictions in Colorado are most often put into effect for commercial vehicles (semi-trailer trucks) and do not usually affect passenger vehicles. 

When visibility is poor or there are whiteout conditions, not driving faster than conditions allow.  High speeds can lead to chain reaction accidents. Also remember you can’t see around mountain curves and corners either. 

Conducting a pre-trip vehicle inspection, leaving extra space between your automobile and others on the road, and never drinking and driving. And, of course, always buckling up!