Columbia activates 27-person overnight road crew for winter weather
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Columbia plow crews will report for duty at 10 p.m. Friday night in preparation of impending snow that is expected to hit the area.
The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team is indicating that 6-9 inches could fall throughout Boone County this weekend. The area is in a winter storm warning through Sunday.
A press release from the city says a 27-person crew will work overnight Friday into Saturday and that works will continue doing 12-hour shifts until the weather event is over.
“Pavement temperatures are expected to remain below freezing throughout the event, and extreme cold will significantly limit the effectiveness of salt,” the release says. “As a result, this is expected to be primarily a plowing operation. Drivers should anticipate slick conditions on all roadways, including those that have been plowed.”
The impending snow has led to a number of churches in the area to cancel their Sunday services or to go remote.
The city said it would focus on “first and second priority routes.”
First priority routes include “Major residential and arterial streets for public safety needs,” and includes roads like Broadway, Green Meadows Road and Vandiver Drive, according to the city’s website.
Second priority routes include “heavily traveled collector and residential streets for Public Safety and City/school bus routes as well as streets connecting to schools, hospitals and other critical areas,” the city’s website says. Some roads in this tier include Fairview Road, Derby Ridge Drive and Parkade, the website says.
Mizzou Athletics also gave updates to parking for Saturday’s men’s basketball game. The Tigers host Oklahoma at 1 p.m. at Mizzou Arena.
“Champions Dr. from Providence Rd. to Mick Deaver Dr. will be closed due to anticipated weather,” Mizzou Athletics wrote on its social media. “Shuttles running from Truman’s Landing could be affected for the game. Fans without a parking pass are suggested to park in the Tiger Ave. Parking Structure (TAPS), which will be free for tomorrow’s game.”
