CHP Gold Run shows dangers of I-80 with mix of rain, snow

GOLD RUN, Calif. — California Highway Patrol Sgt. David Brown took ABC10's Ananda Rochita for a ride-along and showed some of the areas where they see crashes.

One of those areas is Emigrant Gap. Since part of the interstate is closed it has been pretty quiet for them.

"Without the freeway being open, there's not a lot of traffic on the roads," Brown said. 

A few miles after a roadblock on I-80, Brown wanted to show ABC10 why part of it had to close.

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"Right here it's wet. There's not a lot of snow on the road, but as we get further east you'll see there will be more snow on the road," Brown said.

He showed us how the shoulder, covered in snow, was not even visible.

"The shoulders aren't very wide," Brown said. "Normally they're 10 to 12 feet and on this side there's no shoulder. The concern CalTrans has, and we have, is if there's an emergency and if there's traffic in both lanes there's no way for emergency vehicles or tow trucks CalTrans to get through."

CalTrans has been busy clearing the lanes. Brown says once the interstate opens up again he can expect drivers who may not know the area and depend on their GPS.

"A lot of times, people will try to go around traffic closures. They'll follow their GPS and this is a route right up here that is impassable right now," Brown said. 

In addition, Brown says it can get a little chaotic.

"Often I'll see people who are in chain control areas with flip flops, shorts, and just not dressed appropriately for the cold weather," Brown said. "Prepare to be on the side of the road for an extended period. Make sure you have plenty of gas in your vehicle."

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WATCH ALSO: I-80 still closed from Colfax to the Nevada state line after record-breaking snowfall

It has been a very difficult month for Caltrans trying to keep the roads open. The snow continues to fall and because of it Interstate 80 has been shut down from Colfax all the way to the Nevada state line. Here's how crews have been dealing with it.