DENVER -- The Colorado Department of Transportation said Thursday that it has spent $7.1 million on snow removal during the numerous storms and blizzard that hit Colorado’s Eastern Plains and Front Range.

The figure was a very preliminary cost for material, equipment, and staffing during the three-week period, from Dec. 18 through Jan. 8.

"We still don’t have all of overtime, contractor billings and other items such as equipment repairs totaled,” said CDOT Chief Engineer Pam Hutton. "We expect this number will likely change as we continue to gather this information and reconcile costs. We are relieved that the Transportation Commission has a contingency fund to cover these types of emergencies but until we reach the end of the winter season and look at statewide snow removal costs, we don’t know what the full impacts will be to our budget.”

In the Denver area, CDOT has spent $3.7 million on snow removal this winter. During the same time period last year, CDOT spent $1.5 million.