MoDOT, Columbia Public Works pretreating roads ahead of expected snowfall
Mid-Missouri is projected to have between one and three inches of snow overnight Wednesday. To get ahead of that, the Missouri Department of Transportation is pretreating the roads.
“MoDOT crews will be out early tonight preparing before the storm moves in from northwest Missouri to southeast Missouri, but lower temperatures in the teens will make the chemicals not as effective,” said MoDOT State Maintenance Engineer Becky Allmeroth. “The heaviest band of snowfall is expected to hit during the peak of Thursday morning rush hour, and we advise motorists to postpone travel during that time.”
MoDOT is also advising drivers to avoid traveling if possible late Wednesday and especially Thursday morning. MoDOT expects the morning rush hour commute will be impacted by the winter weather across most of Missouri.
The Columbia Public Works Department is also getting ahead of the expected snow event. Barry Dalton with CPW said currently they have a full crew scheduled to come in at 11 p.m. to pretreat priority routes ahead of the weather event that is expected to move in around midnight.
Dalton said if the forecast changes to the snow starting earlier, the crews will come in earlier.
Crews will work at 12-hour shift and if the even is ongoing or not all the roads are passable, a new crew will come in for another 12-hour shift.
CPW also said when snow accumulations are forecast to reach at least two inches, like they are for this snow event, the department will send out a reminder for residents to move their vehicles off snow priority routes.
