DENVER (KDVR) — A massive snowstorm is en route to the metro area, and it’s expected to bring a foot or more of snow to Denver, prompting major road closures.
Areas of the metro are forecasted to receive between 8-18 inches of snow. The Colorado Department of Transportation told FOX31 that some major roadways may be closed soon for safety reasons.
The winter weather conditions could prompt closures on major highways including Interstate 25, Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 285.
Thursday is the day of more concern, as meteorologists expect snowfall to persist all day long. However, threats of poor visibility and dangerous driving conditions could impact roads before the Thursday morning commute.
CDOT did not say exactly when the decision to close roads will be marked, but CDOT and Colorado State Patrol say they want to close roads before conditions get bad.
“We are planning for preemptive safety-based closures so that our highway maintainers have the opportunity to stay in front of this storm, and so that we can prevent crashes,” Colorado State Patrol Col. Matthew Packard said.
Which highways may close for heavy snow
These are the roads that CDOT is anticipating closures on:
- I-25 between Castle Rock and Colorado Springs
- I-70 between Golden and the Eisenhower Tunnel
- U.S. Highway 285 between C-470 and Fairplay
- Colorado Highway 83 between Franktown and Monument
Additionally, CDOT is warning motorists to prepare for avalanche danger to impact travel and possibly prompt road closures on many mountain passes, including:
- Loveland Pass
- Berthoud Pass
- West Loop Road
- Vail Narrows
- Grand Mesa
- Monarch Pass
The goal is to keep roads clear enough for emergency vehicles, CDOT said. Travelers are advised to plan for closures before hitting the road on Wednesday or Thursday. Ideally, CDOT advises avoiding roads if at all possible on Thursday.
Denver, Colorado weather resources
Stay prepared for storms and forecast changes, a Pinpoint Weather Alert Day and other important weather information:
The Pinpoint Weather team will continue to update the forecast multiple times each day.
