Snow causes dozens of wrecks across Mid-Missouri

Emergency responders have been called to about 50 wrecks in Columbia and Boone Co. just since midnight Thursday.

Northbound Providence was closed at the Business Loop for a crash around 8 a.m. Both lanes of Highway VV completely closed for another wreck around 7:45 a.m.

MoDot has been working since 7 p.m. Wednesday treating roads. They are fully staffed and have extra workers on call if needed.

Columbia Public Works started pre-treating first and second priority roads with salt brine Wednesday, focusing on bridges, hills and dangerous curves.

This year, the city of Columbia has about $500,000 budgeted for snow removal.

Officials in Jefferson City and Cole County are also watching roads and waiting as long as possible before treating them, depending on the current conditions.

They said they are judging by three different variables: starting with air temperature, surface temperature and snowfall amounts. Jefferson City has $225,000 budgeted solely for road salt and similar chemicals.