PARK COUNTY – The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is assisting Park County in their efforts to open roads and reach those who have been stranded as a result of extreme winter conditions over the last week. Over the next few days, CDOT will provide crews and equipment to assist Park County in their rescue efforts.

“While we are maintaining the state highways in Park County as normal, we are also stepping up and providing more equipment and more crews to help with the county’s efforts,” said CDOT Executive Director Russell George. “We are bringing in employees and equipment from across the state and we will continue to work with Park County to ensure residents are safe and that our transportation system returns to normal.”

Specifically, Park County has asked for assistance in four particular areas. CDOT has already deployed crews and equipment to County Road 77, County Road 34 and County Road 5. In addition, CDOT crews and equipment are being sent to the town of Como on County Road 33. They will focus on clearing roads so emergency crews can reach stranded residents.

In all, CDOT will dedicate approximately 20 employees and nearly 20 pieces of equipment to assist with the rescue efforts. The Department will use a variety of equipment in this effort, with more on standby:

• Five loaders from Burlington, Strasburg, Pueblo and Grand Junction
• Five motorgraders from Limon, Kiowa and Pueblo
• Four bulldozers from Aurora, Greeley and Grand Junction
• Four one-ton trucks from Pueblo and Grand Junction
• One tandem plow from Pueblo