Columbia Public Works tackles snowfall Saturday

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia Public Works snow crews are working to keep roads clear as a snowstorm coats downtown roads, making travel difficult Saturday.

The snow stalled for a few hours, but picked back up Saturday evening. The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather team expects snowfall to pick up during the night and taper off Sunday afternoon.

Columbia's snow crews are made up of 28 people who are working 12-hour shifts until the weather calms down. Crews will be treating and monitoring the roads potentially through Sunday afternoon.

Engineering and Operations Manager of Columbia Public Works, Richard Stone said plowing is the main goal because salt is ineffective in temperatures below 15 degrees.

"We can use it (salt) a little bit for traction, and if we overblast an area, it could be effective for a short period of location, so if it's an intersection we're trying to address," Stone said.

Stone said that as snowfall lightens on Sunday, crews will start salting and immediately plowing the roads to avoid refreezing the melted snow.

An ABC 17 News reporter drove around on Saturday afternoon in downtown Columbia and on the University of Missouri Campus. The reporter noted roads with packed snow and car tracks.

Columbia resident Mikiah Hunt said she drove from St. Louis to Columbia on Saturday morning, and the roads looked OK, but she decided to walk with a friend instead of driving around downtown.

"The roads were pretty much good and cleared for the most part, but the north side of town when I was dropping off a friend, was pretty rough," Hunt said. "That's why we're walking, we're just keeping it tight to where we live." 

The city also said in a press release that recycling pickup will be canceled for Monday, and the regular schedule will resume Tuesday.