Road crews ready for mid-Missouri snow

Mid-Missouri road crews are getting ready for the first measurable snowfall of the season.

ABC 17 Storm Track meteorologists expect winter weather to move into the area Saturday morning, with a dusting to an inch in Columbia and around an inch or a little more in Jefferson City.

“When we come to full strength on the street, we’ll have 23 route drivers out there. They’re handling the different areas throughout town that are their responsibility and then they’ll team up on different roads whenever it’s required,” Britt Smith of Jefferson City Public Works said.

When the snow starts, Capitol City crews will work on priority routes, and as soon as it stops falling, officials said it usually takes about 3 hours to clear the entire city.

Columbia will have 22 trucks out clearing roads. Crews will focus on first and second-priority routes and then move into secondary areas.

“They will work on the neighborhood routes during normal business hours Monday through Friday, 8 to 5, if it’s less than 4 inches. If we get accumulations over 4 inches, then they will work on those neighborhood routes as soon as the priority routes are passable utilizing overtime if necessary,” Teresa White of Columbia Public Works said.

Jefferson City has no snow parking restrictions. However, officials are asking car owners to avoid parking on the streets if possible.

In Columbia, parking restrictions go into effect on priority routes if the city gets 2 inches or more of snow. Those routes are marked with signs.