Snow Grounds Flights, Slows Cars

*** UPDATE 11:01 P.M. ***As of Sunday night road crews continued to clean up as snow continued to fall. The worry overnight is that re-freeze could make the roads slick. While most roads were clear of snow by Sunday night, crews were continuing to salt.”Quite a bit of snow for the 3rd or 4th day of spring but we were able to get in front of it I believe,” Said Britt Smith with Jefferson City Public Schools.After two major winter storms a Sunday snow seemed like a breeze mostly because drivers steered clear of the plows. “It was a lot easier for us to get it cleaned off with out having to deal with the traffic, it makes a big difference,” said Jim Williams with MoDOT.Even though the slush was off the roads by Sunday night the job wasn’t done, crews continued to widen the roadways and ramps, as well as salting.For anyone driving in the morning, emergency crews urge drivers to be ready, even if the roads look good. “Refreeze is always been an issue that we worry about,” said Smith.”Watch out for black ice watch out for snow blowing and drifting low visibility, buy yourself plenty of time to get to where you are going,” said Williams.Crews in both Jefferson City and Columbia plan to be on the roads until everything is clear and there are no slick spots.If people are driving they should remember to keep their car stocked with food, water, warm clothes, and a charged cell phone.*** ORIGINAL STORY ***As more than half a foot of snow blanketed mid-Missouri, road crews stayed busy and airport crews closed the main runway.Road crews were working at full staff all morning Sunday. Columbia Public Works reported work on first and second priority streets just after noon. Downtown roads had been cleared by the Parks and Recreation department. Once the priority streets had been cleared, public works said it would move plows into residential areas, but no timeline was given.MoDOT crews had major highways mostly clear by Sunday afternoon, though a look at the traveler information map statewide showed eastern counties and highways were still covered as of 1:45 p.m.Jefferson City crews had been adding staff as the storm worsened through the morning. As of 1:45 p.m., all primary and secondary roads were listed as covered . Police had requested drivers stay off the road until roads cleared up later in the day.American Airlines canceled the noon flight Sunday to Dallas/Fort Worth and the 3:55 p.m. flight to Chicago O’Hare because of the weather. Earlier in the day, Columbia Public Works posted on its Facebook page that airport crews had been working to clear the main runway and had hoped to have it done in time for the noon flight.The Sunday evening flight to Dallas/Fort Worth as well as from Chicago and DFW had been canceled, too. Airport staff said the blowing snow made keeping the runways clear too difficult for landing or taking off.