Colorado DOT communications smothered by holiday snow, traffic

Dec. 3, 2008

The combination of a heavy snowstorm and heavy traffic slammed the Colorado DOT’s computer system on Nov. 30, the busiest travel day of the year. Motorists who tried to check road conditions on the state’s website, www.cotrip.org, found that it was shut down, according to The Gazette of Colorado Springs. The state normally has six computer servers to handle the web requests and added two more Sunday afternoon, but they were all overwhelmed by the number of visits to the site.

The combination of a heavy snowstorm and heavy traffic slammed the Colorado DOT’s computer system on Nov. 30, the busiest travel day of the year. Motorists who tried to check road conditions on the state’s website, www.cotrip.org, found that it was shut down, according to The Gazette of Colorado Springs. The state normally has six computer servers to handle the web requests and added two more Sunday afternoon, but they were all overwhelmed by the number of visits to the site.

CDOT’s 5-1-1 and 1-4-4 automated phone lines for road conditions also were overwhelmed by the number of calls on that day.

The communications breakdown was caused by heavy holiday travel and the area’s first real snowstorm of the season, Bob Wilson, a CDOT spokesman, told The Gazette.

A similar situation bogged down travel on I-25 between Colorado Springs and Denver. Heavy Thanksgiving holiday traffic, plus heavy snow and poor visibility in some areas resulting in a four-hour drive for some frustrated motorists.

By midday Monday, CDOT officials were reporting that all roads in the Monument area were passable. Wilson said the agency plans this winter to double the number of computers serving the travel website but does not have the money to expand the telephone systems.

Sponsored Recommendations

The Science Behind Sustainable Concrete Sealing Solutions

Extend the lifespan and durability of any concrete. PoreShield is a USDA BioPreferred product and is approved for residential, commercial, and industrial use. It works great above...

Champion Flame Shield® Phenolic Conduit Guide

Learn how Champion Flame Shield® Provides a Safe Solution in Fire Sensitive Applications

Electrical Conduit Comparison Chart

See how fiberglass conduit stacks up to the competition in crucial areas like weight, corrosion resistance and installation cost.

Proven Concrete Protection That’s Safe & Sustainable

Real-life DOT field tests and university researchers have found that PoreShieldTM lasts for 10+ years and extends the life of concrete.