EL PASO COUNTY — The combination of snow and wind is making the commute to and from Denver leading up to Thanksgiving especially tough. Many drivers are trying to find alternatives to the interstate which often lands them on county roads. El Paso County snow plow drivers are faced with the challenge of keeping those roads safe.
While most of us were sleeping, Ronald Townes had already started his day behind the wheel of his El Paso County snow plow.
"It's been slow going. Just trying to get through all these main roads and get them opened up. It's pretty slick and pretty deep," said Townes.
The snow continued to fall Tuesday morning, but Townes says it's the wind that makes the job so tough and even dangerous at times.
"It just creates a lot of snow coming over the truck and it's hard to see at some point," said Townes.
The urgency to clear the roads picks up with every passing hour.
"A lot of things can jump out at you. Cars stuck in the snow drifts and you can barely even see them. So there's a lot of things. You just have to have your head on a swivel," said Townes.
It's work that could take days, as Thanksgiving Day approaches
"Yeah it comes with the territory," said Townes. "It's not the first time I've spent the holidays plowing snow. You know during the last 14 years I've missed a lot of holidays."
Right now there are 31 El Paso County snow plows working hard to clear thousands of miles of snow covered roadway. Once the wind dies down crews will also begin to address gravel roads.
