The Colorado Department of Transportation is already preparing to respond to the incoming winter weather hitting the state this weekend.

A cold weather system is expected to bring freezing temperatures to the state and the first measurable snowfall of the season to Denver late Saturday night through Sunday. Denver Gazette news partner 9News and station meteorologist Chris Bianchi predict accumulation amounts of up to two inches for the Denver metro area.

According to CDOT, the Denver Metro area will have the resources of a full staff and 95 snowplows ready to respond to this weekend’s storm. Another 30 plows will be along the I-70 mountain corridor to the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel. Snow showers and blowing snow with poor visibility could make for hazardous driving conditions beginning Saturday night in the higher elevations.

“During the first major storm of the season, it’s important for everyone to make sure they are ready — including factoring forecasts into weekend travel, taking it slow when winter conditions pick up, and ensuring that your car is equipped with snow tires,” CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew said in a statement. “Be aware of the road and be extra careful because many drivers haven’t yet re-adjusted to driving in snowy conditions.”

CDOT will also be taking preventative steps in the high country. A temporary safety closure for Colorado Highway 82 Independence Pass will go into place at noon on Friday, Oct. 27, due to the winter storm. The pass will close to keep the traveling public and winter maintenance crews safe, according to CDOT. Crews will reevaluate road conditions once the storm passes.

The road will reopen once the weather has improved, and the road is safely cleared of snow and ice. Closure gates are located near Aspen and Twin Lakes. The alternate route from the Denver Metro Area to Aspen is via westbound Interstate 70 to Glenwood Springs, then CO 82 to Aspen. Independence Pass usually closes in November for the winter season, CDOT said.

Whether or not the City of Denver will plow its residential roads is not yet known. The Denver Gazette reached out to Denver Public Works, but officials were unavailable for comment at the time of this story posting.

Earlier this year, 9News reported that, in Denver, the decision about whether to plow side streets is determined on a case-by-case basis.

At the time, Denver Public Works explained that there’s not really a rule of thumb when it comes to how many inches of snow it takes to deploy residential plows, but instead, the determination is made by “if it will be useful.”

If you do see a snowplow out on the roads this weekend, CDOT is reminding motorists to stay back three to four car lengths from them. In general, winter driving precautions should also be adhered to. Once you are out on the road, take it slow, no sudden stops and leave plenty of following distance, officials said.

Additionally, when weather conditions warrant, CDOT will activate the Traction Law.  For more information on the Traction Law and Passenger Vehicle Chain Law requirements, visit codot.gov/travel/winter-driving/tractionlaw. For more information on the Commercial Vehicle Chain Law requirements, visit codot.gov/travel/colorado-chain-law.

If traveling the roads this weekend, CDOT advises motorists to check road conditions via its website, COtrip.org.