Severe winter weather forced a closure of Colorado Highway 131 after a broken down tractor-trailer nearly left the road and blocked both lanes near Oak Creek around noon Tuesday.

Traffic was rerouted through Stagecoach onto Routt County Road 14 until 131 reopened around 3:16 p.m

“It doesn’t sound like (the truck) had chains on the tires,” Routt County Sheriff Doug Scherar said.

According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado state law requires all commercial vehicles and trucks to be equipped with snow chains from September through May.

The wintry weather conditions also resulted in a closure of U.S. Highway 40 at mile marker 118 west of Milner in both directions beginning at 4:56 p.m. Tuesday, with traffic rerouted onto County Road 27 and County Road 33.

The road closures are a good reminder to all drivers to follow state snow chain regulations.

During this period, passenger vehicles must also have four-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, or winter tires if the vehicle has two-wheel drive. If none of these criteria are met, CDOT says vehicles must have alternative traction devices such as tire socks or tire belts.

The tread depth of all tires should be at least 3/16 inch, regardless of vehicle or tire type.

Violation of these regulations will result in a $100 fine with a $32 surcharge or a $500 fine with a $156 surcharge if the violation results in the closure of one or more lanes .