Road crews gearing up for another winter blast

Mid-Missouri road crews are having an easier time after battling the winter weather that hit the area on Sunday, but they won’t have too long to rest — another storm is expected to move in mid-week.

MODOT trucks and plows are thawing out in the sunshine during Monday after temperatures dropped and snow blew threw mid-Missouri on Sunday night. “When the temperatures started to change around 5 and the snow also hit the same time — it kind of got slick real quick. So, we kept treating it with salt and sand, trying to break through the ice and get back to pavement,” said Rich Skelton for Missouri Department of Roads.

MODOT officials said they had 12 trucks out in different areas Sunday night, including major routes such at Providence and Stadium streets. That didn’t keep the city streets from freezing, becoming treacherous for drivers. CPD officials said from noon to midnight on Sunday, officers responded to 39 accidents — most of them happening around 7:00, after the snow really hit. MODOT officials said they were ready for the late burst of winter weather. “We heard it coming. Our MODOT buildings out to the west, they were lettings us now there was more snow coming and freezing temperatures coming. So, we were ready for it,” said Skelton.

Officials said they’re ready for this Wednesday too. The forecast shows another round of snow hitting mid-Missouri. MODOT said it has plenty of salt, sand and trucks — 27 of those trucks will be out treating and clearing roads. “Mechanics are working on the major break downs, so they’ll have those trucks ready to go and we’ve got crews working on snow plow blades and trucks that aren’t spreading correctly — we’re getting those corrected. So, well be ready,” said Skelton.

Cole County officials said they’ll have more than 20 trucks out. Officials in Jefferson City said they’ll be monitoring the weather all Wednesday afternoon and will jump into action when the storm hits.