MONUMENT – Heavy snowfall across Southern Colorado is creating a very rough drive for many people just trying to get home from work or heading out of town for the weekend.
Colorado State Patrol is advising anyone who chooses to travel north or south on I-25 to have a full tank of gas. Yes, the delays are that bad. The delays heading southbound between Castle Rock and Monument were well above two hours due to multiple crashes.
I found myself stuck at Monument Hill, so I camped out to cover how everyone else was faring.
So many truck drivers sought to get off the road there’s no more room to park at the Pilot truck stop. They resorted to parking on side streets to wait out the storm that’s caused headaches all day.
Traffic on both sides of Monument Hill was crawling because of the snow which led to wrecks and slideoffs.
“It’s crazy. I grew up in northern Michigan. I’m used to snow, but I’ve been stranded for a few hours now,” one driver told me.
The 20 car pileup around 11 a.m. between county line and greenland started the mess. But then the plows were stuck in the traffic jam.
As wreckers managed to move cars off the road it was still to icy for some big trucks to make it up the hill due to empty trailers not offering the weight to build up traction.
By the time CDOT announced a chain law was in effect for commercial traffic it was too late for some drivers.
Drivers seeking refuge headed out onto county roads where conditions were not better. With whiteout conditions and snow piling up on roads cars were getting stuck left and right.
“I was gonna try and take the back roads, but I’ve seen even the big trucks go past me and then turn right back around,” a commuter explained.
Waiting seemed to be the best, if not desired option for the day.
With temperatures staying below freezing tonight, El Paso County is advising people to stay off the roads. Tomorrow brings sunny skies and a break above 40 degrees for hopefully a relaxing weekend.
