Snowstorm could deliver more than a foot, making travel ‘very difficult’ on I-70 mountain corridor
The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather warning and a winter weather advisory for the Colorado mountain region
Aspen Times File photo
The Colorado Department of Transportation is urging drivers to “dust off” their winter driving skills as a substantial snowstorm is expected to hit the state beginning Thursday night after a dry spell.
The storm will bring a “healthy burst of snow” throughout Friday before weakening by Saturday morning, the state transportation department said in a news release. CDOT crews will be out plowing and treating roads, but pavement could be slick, so transportation officials said motorists should be prepared.
Colorado’s passenger vehicle traction law — which requires drivers to have mud or snow tires with a 3/16-inch tread depth or chains or an alternative traction device on their tires — will likely be in effect for portions of the storm, according to the transportation department.
On the Interstate 70 mountain corridor and U.S. Highway 40 at Berthoud Pass, drivers should be prepared for icy and snow-packed roads, especially near the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels, the release states. While the snowfall is expected to shift south of I-70 by Friday night, officials warned ski traffic could be impacted the following morning.
Drivers should allow for extra time, check COTrip.org for traction law information and real-time conditions, and consider taking public transportation, such as Bustang, Snowstang or Pegasus, which can drop passengers off at popular ski areas, according to CDOT.
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The National Weather Service has also issued a winter weather advisory for the Steamboat Springs area and along the I-70 mountain corridor, warning of between 6 to 14 inches and 40 mph wind gusts that could make travel “very difficult.”
Most of the rest of the mountain region is under a winter weather advisory, warning that between 3 and 7 inches of snow are expected through midnight Friday night and “travel could be difficult at times.”
