Photo from Elaine Collins
Colorado has seen a shortage of fuel truck drivers since the pandemic, leaving certain regions with limited gas supplies and rising prices amid a busy holiday weekend.
Some gas stations in Summit County have only diesel fuel available, including Exxon in Frisco and City Market in Breckenridge, which has been out of gasoline since at least Friday, July 2. Other gas stations, like the City Market in Dillon, were low on gasoline Tuesday, July 6, with only premium available at some pumps.
Jessica Trowbridge, spokesperson for King Soopers and City Market, wrote in an email Tuesday that there are multiple factors contributing to the shortage, “including carrier capacity issues, spot outages and extended wait times.” She said City Market is currently working to resolve the issue.
The Colorado Department of Transportation, along with the Colorado State Patrol and the Colorado Motor Carriers Association, is asking motorists to slow down on Interstate 70 in Summit County.
There are two construction zones on I-70 in the area, one for a resurfacing project between Frisco and Silverthorne and another for a structure replacement west of the Eisenhower/Johnson Memorial Tunnels. The department said drivers are regularly putting workers in danger by speeding through the construction zones. There have already been two crashes near the work zone by Silverthorne in addition to several near misses, according to CDOT.
“It is critically important for drivers to follow speed limits in these work zones,” CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew said in a news release. “Unfortunately, we’ve witnessed a pattern of unsafe behavior in this area, and we implore drivers including cars and trucks alike to slow down in this work zone so our crews can get the projects done sa
The Colorado Department of Transportation will begin chain-up station improvements today on Monarch Pass.
The project will involve existing chain station locations on U.S. 50 between mile points 189 â near Sargents â and 211 â Maysville â in Chaffee, Gunnison, and Saguache counties.
âCDOT places a high priority on highway projects that help our commercial trucks roll smoothly along key corridors like U.S. 50,â Shoshana Lew, CDOT executive director, said in a press release.
âIt is critical that trucks chain up in winter storm events when Coloradoâs chain law is enforced.
âChain-up stations provide a safe place for drivers to fit snow chains onto (or off) their truck tires.â
Today
Rain early.then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 42F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%..
Tonight
Steady light rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low near 35F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Updated: May 3, 2021 @ 9:59 am
Colorado Politics file Gov. Jared Polis, seated, presents the pen he used to sign a bill that will urge utilities to build more charging stations for electric vehicles to Sen. Kevin Priola, R-Henderson, as co-sponsors of the bill, Sen. Angela Williams, D-Denver, and Rep. Chris Hansen, D-Denver, look on.
Colorado Politics file