Public works hopes all Columbia streets passable by daybreak
Columbia Public Works estimated Monday night that all city streets would be passable by morning.
The agency posted an update to its Facebook page about progress clearing snow Monday night. At its 7 p.m. shift change Monday the department estimated about 80 percent of city streets were navigable by a front-wheel drive passenger vehicle, according to a post on the Public Works page on Facebook.
The city said it hoped to have all roads passable by daybreak. Crews have worked around the clock for four consecutive days, the department said. Refreezing had already occurred early Monday night and freezing drizzle was possible.
Columbia Public Schools will start two hours late on Tuesday, with district spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark saying CPS hopes the extra time will help make getting to school easier.
Buses for other districts in mid-Missouri will run on snow routes only and other campuses will be closed.
CPS asked for parents to be patient because buses might be delayed beyond the late start because of road conditions.
Columbia Public Schools will have a 2-hour delayed start on Tuesday, Jan. 15. This means buses will pick up 2 hours later than the original pick up time.
Please be patient with bus transportation as buses may be slower than normal in order to navigate all the routes safely.
— Michelle Baumstark (@mbaumstark) January 14, 2019
Southern Boone Public Schools, Boonville, Mexico, South Callaway, North Callaway and Fulton Public Schools will be closed Tuesday, while Tipton and New Bloomfield had determined by early afternoon that they would be open Tuesday with buses on snow routes only. Jefferson City Public Schools will also run snow routes, but in Callaway County only.
The University of Missouri campus was scheduled to reopen for normal hours.
Click here for a complete updated list of closings.
Primary routes were largely clear — state, county and city roads — but several side streets remained covered or partially covered Monday afternoon. The Missouri Department of Transportation’s traveler information map showed major state roads around the area were clear, while Columbia Public Works estimated at midday that about 40 to 50 percent of residential streets were clear.
Crews Monday were working from the outer limits of Columbia in to clear streets, the department said.
