YOUR AD HERE »

CDOT installs fog alert sign with sensor on I-70

Amanda Holt MillerPost Independent Staff

Drivers going into Canyon Creek on Interstate 70 Wednesday morning were well-warned that fog presented a hazard.The electronic sign between mile markers 109 and 110 on westbound I-70 is the first of its kind on the Western Slope, said Steve Quick, who works at the Hanging Lake station for the Colorado Department of Transportation. The sign, along with another to be installed near the eastbound onramp at New Castle, is connected to a special fog sensor.Most electronic signs along the interstate will accept any programmed message. The fog alert signs will accept other messages as long as the fog sensor doesn’t note a visibility problem. In that case, it will override any other message with a warning for drivers to slow down and be cautious.”The thing that makes Canyon Creek different – there are times when it’s clear for a driver everywhere else,” said Jim Nall, with CDOT in Grand Junction. “They’re not going to be aware of the fog in Canyon Creek. We might not even know ourselves.”Nall said CDOT decided the area around Canyon Creek was particularly prone to fog and many of the accidents in that area happened when there was heavy fog.”The more truth we can get on the signs, we hope drivers will be more alert,” Nall said.Work began over the summer and the project is not yet finished, Quick said. The sign that was supposed to be installed near the New Castle onramp was dropped during installation and it should be up soon.There are other signs with automatic preprogrammed messages on the Western Slope but they only display radar speed information, such as the one in Glenwood Canyon that warns drivers they’re going to fast for a curve.The sign only displays information when a motorists is speeding, otherwise the sign remains blank, Quick said.CDOT can override the preprogrammed messages with other road condition warnings and Amber Alerts for kidnappings.As for the fog alert signs, CDOT officials hope it will be beneficial.”We get that heavy fog between Canyon Creek and New Castle and for commuters that can be a real bugger,” Quick said. “Hopefully this will help a little.”Contact Amanda Holt Miller : 625-3245 ext. 103ahmiller@postindependent.com


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around Glenwood Springs and Garfield County make the Post Independent’s work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.