Full road treatment teams deployed in Jefferson City, Cole County amid falling snow

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The 24 salt trucks in the Jefferson City Public Works fleet got to work just before Noon Monday as snow began to cover the city's streets.

The department's operations manager, Britt Smith, said the city waited to deploy the crews until the optimal moment.

"In these temperatures, we don't want to put the salt down too soon because we're really worried that there will be a little bit of a thaw and then a refreeze," said Smith. "We wanted to wait until the last possible moment before we get out there and start operations because we're going to be in it until we can get those roads clear."

Jefferson City police Lt. David Williams, officers responded to 28 traffic crashes, four of which included injuries, as well as two slide-offs and seven traffic hazards between 10 a.m. and about 6 p.m. Monday.

Cole County Public Works director Larry Benz said a full crew of 26 salt trucks were deployed shortly before noon and will likely continue to treat the county roads until late Monday evening.

Sheriff John Wheeler said his deputies responded to 17 snow-related, slide-off crashes as of 7:30 p.m. He added that only minor injuries were reported, if any.

ABC 17 News crews spotted JCPD units responding to an apparent single-vehicle crash in the eastbound lanes of the Hwy 54 Missouri River Bridge.

The crash caused a significant traffic delay for about an hour before returning to normal by 4 p.m.

Jefferson City and Cole County officials warned drivers to stay off the roads unless it's absolutely necessary that they travel. If that is the case, drivers should use extreme caution on the roads, increasing the usual following distance from other vehicles.