News - Local
Legislators protest no-plow policy in rural areas
Posted: Dec 29, 2009 7:27 AM by Bea Karnes
Updated: Dec 29, 2009 7:27 AM
If you live out in the boonies, don't expect the state to clear the roads at night for you. The Colorado Department of Transportation has decided to leave snow on nearly 2,800 miles of lightly traveled rural highways at night.
Some legislators are protesting the state's decision. A dozen legislators, mostly Republicans, are asking Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter and C-DOT to have plows remove snow on those roads.
State Sen. Greg Brophy of Wray says the policy is a basic safety issue and not plowing the outlying highways is an ill-advised cost-saving measure.
Transportation Department spokeswoman Stacey Stegman says it's been general practice to leave rural highways unplowed overnight unless they are a hospital or school route or if more snow would close them.
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