We had a crash with 2 cars and a semi on SB I-25 after Hampden. One of the cars spun out and was turned the wrong way. It took 45 minutes or so to clear the crash but the traffic jam was long and slow out of downtown. There was also a police chase after a cab was car jacked and taken for a ride through downtown. The police stopped the cab on Washington between 18th and 19th and arrested the suspects.

It was a very foggy drive to work this morning. It burned off fairly quickly though and left plenty of sunshine to slow down the commute. There was an accident on NB I-25 at the new Ridge Gate Parkway interchange construction in Lone Tree that slowed traffic back to Castle Pines. We have seen several crashes at that interchange over the past several weeks.

Saturday is the last day CDOT will accept applications to allow owners of qualifying hybrid vehicles to apply for a permit to use the state’s High Occupancy Vehicle lanes. They will use a lottery system to issue 2000 permits. Applications will be accepted online, in person and through the mail. The Environmental Protection Agency has completed a draft list of vehicles that will be used to determine eligibility. For specific types of vehicles, visit: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/ld-hwy/hov/drafteligiblevehicles.pdf

Applications will be accepted online and can be downloaded at www.dot.state.co.us/hybrids/. Or, to request an application, email info@dot.state.co.us. Completed applications can be mailed to:
Colorado Department of Transportation
Attn: Hybrid Permits
4201 E. Arkansas Ave., Room 290
Denver, CO 80222
Phone: (303) 757-9716

It was a cold and windy commute in many areas especially in Douglas and El Paso Counties. There were wet roads to the south and to the west with a few slick spots here and there. We also had a few accidents on and off the freeways, the worst a rollover on Belleview at Ulster in the tech center.

The back to work Tuesday commute was a wet one but it didn’t cause too many problems. Yes there were a few crashes and some problems with the traffic lights out in some spots but there wasn’t anything too bad for us to deal with on the morning drive except for the sleep still in our eyes.

It was a quiet start to the holiday weekend with lighter than normal traffic today but there were a few crashes. The worst was a rollover in Aurora on Tower south of Hampden. It was closed for a while. The other was SB I-25 at I-70 that backed up traffic to 104th.

The heat is on and the click it or ticket campaigns are in full swing this holiday weekend. Please be safe on and off the roads. I’ll be back on Tuesday after the 3 day weekend.