A Rare Move: Snow Prompts Public Works To Plow Residential Streets

DENVER (CBS4) - It's a rare occurrence -- snow plows on the side streets. But Denver Public Works deployed their crews to clear residential roads because the snow was so deep.

Nearly 100 plows will hit the side streets at 9 p.m. Tuesday to make those roads more drive able.

The residential plow program was deployed only once last winter.

"This storm came in very quickly and the snow built up very fast," said Denver Public Works spokeswoman Heather Burke.

During the day on Tuesday, all 70 of Denver Public Works snowplows hit the streets to clear the snow.

"They are going to stay on duty throughout the day today and through tonight," said Burke.

Outside the Denver metro area, conditions were difficult throughout the day, even for snowplows.

In Boulder Canyon, one snowplow slid off the road and flipped over. The driver was not hurt.

"We've retrieved that plow now and we've gotten the road back open," said Colorado Department of Transportation Amy Ford. "But it shows how treacherous some of the conditions were."

Ford said the traction laws or Code 15 are in place not just for the high country but also in the Denver metro area.

"We actually had traction laws, specifically chain laws on C470 in the metro area... very unusual," said Ford.

Both CDOT and Denver Public Works advise drivers to be extra cautious on the roads.

"The reality is we still have a lot of snow that our plows are going to be moving and pushing off the roads," said Ford.