US 285 & CO 9 Truck Chain-Up Stations Design
Welcome to the Colorado Department of Transportation's Region 2 Truck Chain-Up Station Design Project
Digital Open House
Project Purpose
Vehicle traction issues resulting from winter storms on Colorado mountain roadways create safety and operational issues on steep grades, particularly mountain passes. Spun-out vehicles on Kenosha and Hoosier passes block traffic and require unnecessary roadway closures. This design project aims to address these issues by impelementing designated safe and reliable locations for both commercial and passenger vehicles to chain up, increasing compliance during Colorado Chain Law events on southbound US Highway 285 (US 285) near Grant and northbound Colorado Highway 9 (CO 9) near Alma in Park County.
Safety Benefits
Creates safe location for motorists to stop and chain up
Encourages compliance with Colorado Chain Laws
Decreases the likelihood of Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) crashes and incidents due to weather, avoiding major back-ups or highway closures
Increasing Chain Law Occurrences
US 285 - Experienced an increase from 19 Chain Law occurrences over 6 days in 2016 to 83 occurrences over 36 days in 2019.
CO 9 - Experienced an increase from 51 Chain Law occurrences over 48 days in 2016 to 166 occurrences over 79 days in 2019.
Standard Chain Station Operations
Only used when Chain Law is in effect
Long-term parking not allowed
Increases ability to enforce Chain Law (law enforcement can ticket and turn around non-compliers)
Trash and snow removal by CDOT
Speed limit reduction by 10 mph during Chain Law events using digital Variable Speed Limit signs.
Lighting
Lights on only when Chain Law is in effect during nighttime hours
Use shields to minimize glare
Lights downward directed towards trucks to minimize ambient light