The first snow of the season could arrive as soon as today, Thursday, Oct. 14, in the I-25 South Gap construction zone along I-25 between Castle Rock and Monument. Here are some helpful reminders to prepare you for the winter driving season ahead:
- Ensure your vehicle is winter-ready with adequate tires for conditions. Plan to have an emergency kit with supplies on hand, including a blanket, warm clothing, water and food.
- Leave plenty of space behind the vehicle in front of you.
- Go slow; do not exceed the speed limit. The speed limit will be reduced during winter storms, so pay attention to the variable speed limit signs throughout the South Gap construction zone.
- You can expect CDOT crews to pretreat the roadway prior to a storm and plows to be out in full force when a storm begins. Never pass the plows.
- Stay off I-25 between Monument and Castle Rock during inclement weather. If you were to get stranded, you will not find services like hotels and restaurants in this rural stretch, and gas stations are extremely limited. In addition, evacuation centers will not operate at full capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions.
- Depending on the severity of the weather, CDOT may have to proactively close I-25 for the safety of motorists. If I-25 closes, you can also expect Colorado Highways 83 and 105 to close. Closing I-25 in the construction zone area prevents motorists from being stuck in treacherous weather conditions with no nearby services.
Remember – high speeds and following too closely are the leading causes of crashes in the I-25 South Gap corridor. Crews and first responders depend on you to follow posted speeds and leave plenty of space between you and the vehicle ahead of you, especially in severe weather conditions. Throughout the duration of a storm, use CDOT’s Facebook page, Twitter account, cotrip.org and 511 for information on roadway conditions.