Crews monitoring road conditions overnight

Public works crews in Columbia and Jefferson City are on standby overnight to monitor road conditions, but spokespeople from both departments said they don’t anticipate calling in extra workers.

“The forecasts we’re seeing, I think we’re going to be okay,” said Jefferson City division director of streets Britt Smith. “That doesn’t mean we’re not monitoring it.”

Unless they’re needed, crews won’t be coming in to treat roads. Columbia Public Works spokesman Barry Dalton said they’re doing the same.

“Crews won’t be reporting at 7:30 a.m. unless called in,” he said.

Crews will be ready to report as needed.

Missouri Department of Transportation personnel are also monitoring conditions, especially the Central District’s roadways near creeks or rivers that commonly flood.

“We are prepared to close additional roadways if necessary, as well as reopen others as water recedes,” said spokeswoman Lisa Cox.

Dalton said they still advise people to drive carefully overnight.

“It might be a New Year, but it’s the same mercurial Missouri weather,” Columbia Public Works shared in a Facebook post.