CDOT has plows ready in case of heavy snow

DENVER - Crews with the Colorado Department of Transportation are preparing for more snow on the Interstate 70 corridor and the foothills, but they do not expect a need for snowplows in the metro area.

CDOT has 25 to 30 crews on the I-70 corridor, and additional snowplows standing by for the foothills.

CDOT spokesperson Mindy Crane says they are not caught off guard by the September snow.

"Our crews have actually been out," Crane said. "They were out yesterday; they continue to be out today and into tomorrow."

Crane says the pavement is too warm to use de-icer, but the department has plenty of it on hand. CDOT wants drivers to know that the state's budget shortfall is not impacting snow removal operations.

"CDOT does have dedicated funding that comes from the gas tax, so that certainly helps with the budget situation," Crane said. "We have had to cut in areas, but those areas have more affected construction rather than maintenance, and so our crews are going to be out there this winter as always, and safety remains our number one priority."

Crane says there may be cuts to CDOT's 2010 budget that will hurt construction projects, but snow removal operations will be protected.

This can be a reassuring thought for drivers, since the economy seems to be as unpredictable as the Colorado weather.

"Definitely typical Colorado weather, you know, one minute it's cold and snowing, and the next it's sunny and beautiful," Crane said. "So you never know what to expect, and our crews are well aware of that, and ready for the different change of pace."

CDOT set aside $225.4 million for maintenance in the 2008-2009 budget; $50 million of that is specifically for snow and ice removal.