Snow mounds abound everywhere around downtown

Several Auraria parking lots are blocked with snow the second week into spring semester, making parking difficult since the multiple blizzards hit Denver.

Facilities Management uses parking lot Q as a snow dump. Parking lot A has yet to be cleared leaving over a quarter of the lot snow covered and impassable.

According to Facilities Management Supervisor Thomas Moody, the campus "ran out of room for where we haul to get rid of the snow." Lot Q was used as a dumping ground from the first main snow in late December, and lot A is used to dump snow piled on roofs of garages. "We've been looking for other sites to dump, can't go on the grass cause you'll get stuck," said Moody.

After the first blizzard hit, Facilities Management hired Edge Contracting, Inc. to help haul snow. Following the first blizzard, "we worked around the clock, split shifts and crews up, for three days straight," said Moody, "we've been working almost every weekend since then, five weeks in a row."

"We understand that it is a commuter campus and we take snow very seriously. Facilities Manager, Division Director Jim Fraser is taking the situation seriously," said Moody.

As of Jan. 10, over two thousand hours have been clocked for snow removal alone, not counting contractors. It is the equivalent of hiring a new full time employee year round. Auraria Facilities spent around $80,000 in December, all related to snow removal, including contractors, overtime and equipment needs.

Moody has been working on campus for more than 30 years. He was here for the blizzards of '82 and '03. "This (blizzard) has been harder because of the waves of storms slamming you week after week. There was cold temperatures, below zero, no melting going on for 10 to 12 days," said Moody.

Moody stressed for students to be cautious and cognizant when walking around campus, "every night it melts, runs and makes ice."

"I think campus is a lot better than other places around the city," said Moody. The campus sidewalks and most walkways are clear of snow and ice.

There is no estimated time for when Facilities Management will have all of the parking lots clear, but Moody said, "We aren't stopping until we're done."

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