Spring Can Mean Winter in the Rockies

An article about the long winter maintenance season in the Colorado Rockies describes some of the hazards of spring. In the 2006-2007 winter season, there was a bad winter for the second year in a row, which forced road crews to be redeployed from around the state to the Front Range. On the plains of southeastern and eastern Colorado, there were snowdrifts and whiteout conditions that often closed the majority of the highways in the area. The Denver metro area was also hard hit, leading to frustrated and impatient motorists. This came after a few years of mild winters, which caused people to forget how serious storms could be. When spring snows require crews to revert to winter equipment, it can mean interfering with seasonal chores like weed removal and trash pick ups. Details are given on the various techniques the Colorado Department of Transportation has used to cope with weather extremes, with a focus on avalanche management.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1519687
• Authors:
  • Shanks, Nancy
  • Crane, Mindy
• Publication Date: 2007-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: pp 38-41
• Serial:
  • Better Roads
  • Volume: 77
  • Issue Number: 6
  • Publisher: James Informational Media, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0006-0208
  • Serial URL: http://www.betterroads.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cold weather; Maintenance practices; Snow and ice control; Winter maintenance
• Geographic Terms: Colorado; Rocky Mountains
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; I62: Winter Maintenance;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01052174
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: UC Berkeley Transportation Library
• Files: BTRIS, TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 27 2007 4:20PM