Columbia crews make progress clearing priority streets
Officials responsible for clearing Columbia roads are hopeful their work and the sun did enough Monday to limit refreezing overnight.
Columbia’s Public Works Department tweeted Monday afternoon that the chance for an overnight refreeze had decreased on priority routes. Spokesman Barry Dalton wrote in an email that the lower chances came from snow- and ice-melting treatments put down on Columbia’s priority streets that helped dry the roads during the day. However, Dalton cautioned the situation is hard to predict.
Non-priority routes will be evaluated during business hours Tuesday per city policy, Dalton said.
The city updates its snow-clearing progress via an online map.
An overnight street crew was not scheduled as of Monday afternoon, but Public Works said it would continue to monitor roads overnight.
The chance for an overnight/morning refreeze has decreased. However, Street Division engineers will continue to monitor conditions for possible early morning response. No overnight crews are currently scheduled. Any operational changes will be posted at https://t.co/5oYbOwvAkI. pic.twitter.com/Loq18KmjBk
— Columbia Pub Works (@pub_works) November 26, 2018
Authorities earlier Monday had reported a few crashes around Columbia and warned drivers to avoid particular intersections because of ice.
One Columbia intersection was closed. Boone County Joint Communications in an alert at about 9:15 a.m. said Paquin Street between Waugh and Hitt streets in central Columbia was closed because of ice. The intersection had reopened by 11:30 a.m.
BOONE CO JOINT COM: Pauqin St between Waugh and Hitt St closed due to icy roadway. Choose alternate route.
— Joint Communications (@BCJC911) November 26, 2018
Earlier dispatchers had cautioned against driving at Stadium Boulevard and College Park Drive because of ice in the road. Crashes were reported at locations such as Highway 63 at East Crofton Hall Road and Providence Road at Stadium.
Few power outages were reported, though Ameren Missouri’s power outage map showed about 100 customers without power between Rocheport and New Franklin along Highway 40.
Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers had urged drivers to leave early for the morning commute in a tweet Monday morning.
Be patient & leave earlier this morning. @MoDOT is working to clear the roadways. pic.twitter.com/tQEpCRZGvM
— MSHP Troop F (@MSHPTrooperF) November 26, 2018
The Missouri Department of Transportation said Monday morning that roads in the central district ranged from covered to clear and that drivers should check the MoDOT map before they head out the door. By afternoon state roads around the area were listed as clear.
Multiple schools and centers in the area, including Columbia Public Schools and the University of Missouri, were either closed or on a delayed start. At least one, Higbee, had called off Tuesday classes by Monday afternoon.
A full list of delays and closings can be found here.
Low temperatures in the lower teens were expected overnight with high wind gusts.
