<\/p>\n
Another wave of snow is expected late Monday and Tuesday morning before the biggest snowstorm of the season leaves Southwest Colorado.<\/p>\n
And Tuesday\u2019s commute might be just as dicey as Monday\u2019s, when a semitrailer snarled morning traffic on U.S. Highway 160 between Bayfield and Chimney Rock.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to have another round come in (Monday) evening and continue through Tuesday,\u201d said Kris Sanders, meteorologist with the National Weather Service. \u201cJust like the first wave, there will be periods of moderate to heavy snow at times. So, that\u2019s kind of what we\u2019re expecting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Also beginning at 6 a.m. Tuesday, the Colorado Department of Transportation will conduct winter maintenance operations on the west side of Wolf Creek Pass.<\/p>\n
Motorists will encounter a lengthy delay of up to two hours and are urged to allow for extra travel time Tuesday morning, said CDOT spokeswoman Lisa Schwantes.<\/p>\n
Westbound traffic will be stopped at the chain-up station at Treasure Falls, at milepost 157. Eastbound traffic will be stopped at the top of Wolf Creek Pass near the ski area, milepost 167.<\/p>\n
Travelers are urged to \u201cknow before you go,\u201d she said. Anyone who must be on the road should gather information about weather forecasts and anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions before hitting the road. Information from various CDOT sources is available, including:<\/p>\n
Road conditions and travel information: www. COtrip.org<\/a>.<\/em>Social media: Twitter @coloradodot<\/a> and Facebook facebook.com\/coloradodot<\/a>.<\/em>Sign up for project or travel alerts: bit.ly\/COalerts<\/a>.<\/em>Scheduled lane closures: codot.gov\/travel\/scheduled-lane-closures.html<\/a>.<\/em>U.S. Highway 160 reopened at 9:50 a.m. Monday.<\/p>\n Details about the crash were sketchy, but Schwantes said she believed the semitrailer was involved in a single-vehicle crash that had blocked both directions of traffic between Bayfield and Chimney Rock.<\/p>\n Calls to the Colorado State Patrol were not returned Monday.<\/p>\n Schwantes said highways across Southwest Colorado will remain snowpacked and drivers should slow down and drive to conditions.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you don\u2019t need to travel, stay off the roads. If you must travel, slow down and drive to the conditions,\u201d Schwantes said.<\/p>\n On Monday, CDOT had eight snowplows working in La Plata County, six in Montezuma County, six in Archuleta County and six other snowplows working the passes in Southwest Colorado \u2013 Lizard Head, Coal Bank, Molas and Red Mountain.<\/p>\n As of 5 p.m. Monday, chain laws or four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive were required on all Southwest Colorado\u2019s mountain passes.<\/p>\n The snowstorm forced closure of the COVID-19 community testing site at the La Plata County Fairgrounds on Monday. But the site is scheduled to reopen from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, weather permitting, said Megan Graham, spokeswoman for La Plata County.<\/p>\n Durango-La Plata County Airport Aviation Director Tony Vicari said the snowstorm was a warm one, and crews were able to keep the runway open with only a small, acceptable dusting of snow on the pavement, and normal operations have been maintained.<\/p>\n Vicari said passengers should check with airlines through the storm because flights, especially those going through Denver, might be delayed.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been able to keep ahead of it, and we do need the moisture, so that\u2019s good,\u201d Vicari said.<\/p>\n The city of Durango has put its Snow Route rules in effect to allow snowplowing.<\/p>\n The city plows 164 lane miles of road within city limits, and removes snow from 55 blocks in the downtown commercial area.<\/p>\n Snow routes are streets designated important and necessary for safe travel. Motor vehicles may be towed from snow routes if they are not moved when Snow Routes are enacted.<\/p>\n A map of snow routes is available on the city\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n In Durango, light traffic on the Monday between Christmas and New Year\u2019s Day, helped keep Southwest Colorado\u2019s workday commute manageable.<\/p>\n Durango Police Department Sgt. Dave Longenette said he had no reports of crashes within city limits as of 8:30 a.m. However, as of 10:45 a.m., DPD issued an accident alert.<\/p>\n Residents involved in nonemergency fender-benders were asked to file reports online by going to the Colorado State Patrol\u2019s website<\/a> and under the \u201cI Want To\u201d tab clicking on \u201cCrash Information\u201d and then clicking on \u201cFile an Online Crash Report.\u201d<\/p>\n A winter storm warning is in effect for the southwestern San Juan Mountains through 5 p.m. Tuesday and snow is expected on and off. Travel is expected to be difficult to impossible during periods of heavy snow. In addition, blowing snow could reduce visibility at times.<\/p>\n