Columbia Public Works warns of continued slick roads despite some clearing
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The snow may have stopped but drivers should still expect slick road conditions all throughout the day, Columbia Public Works spokesman John Ogan said Friday.
Slick roads in the morning contributed to several crashes, some of which included a semi-truck tipping over on Interstate 70.
The Highway Patrol reports from midnight and two p.m. on Friday, there were 132 service calls and 50 crashes. This number included 39 stranded drivers and 2 injury crashes.
Ogan says speed and tailgating is an issue he's noticed out on the highway and could be the reason for some of those crashes.
"I want to tell people this snowfall just ended this morning, it's not time to go back to business as usual," Ogan said. "Please continue to drive with caution and if you don't have to drive please just stay home, exercise some of those prudent winter weather driving techniques and above all else keep it slow, especially on some of those untreated residential roads. Give yourself extra time to brake and go well below the speed limit."
Columbia Public Works crews plan to work continuously Friday to get priority roads to near-normal conditions as quickly as they can. Ogan says its crews will then turn their attention to residential areas.
"So we're going to be working continuously and with all resources and we're going to do our best," Ogan said.
MODOT, tells Abc 17 that after a winter storm hundreds of cars may be left out on the roads which can take several hours or even several weeks to remove. Randy Aulbur who works for MODOT says speeding and tailgating could contribute to the up-tick in crashes during a winter storm. Aulbur says he's witnessed many people slide off the roads during these type of conditions.
"When temperatures are below freezing and we've had a winter event past through there's a lot of things going on with the pavement and your automobile. You just need to give yourself extra time", said Aulbur.
And although the winter weather alert day has ended, Columbia Public Works is warning drivers to stay off the roads today as plows continue to treat priority roads and residential areas.
"I want to tell people this snowfall just ended this morning, its not time to go back to business as usual", Ogan said.
The city had 28 crews working on getting the road conditions back to normal Friday afternoon and Public Works says these numbers will increase throughout the day. The city allows drivers to track conditions using an online map.
Roads continued to clear around the area with a mix of rising temperatures and peeks of sunshine. The Missouri Department of Transportation's online map showed most state highways were only lightly covered or clear by about noon.
Check back for updates to this story and watch ABC 17 News at 5 and 6.
