MoDOT plans overnight coverage of ice storm
The Missouri Department of Transportation is prepared to quickly react to Wednesday evening’s expected ice storm across the counties in their central district.
“We’re going to focus a lot along that line of Hannibal and Pittsburg, Kansas,” said district maintenance engineer Jason Shafer. “But I would say we’re going to deviate on either side of that line. We’ve all seen weather patterns, It doesn’t take a lot for them to move.”
Several trucks will be stationed in different areas in the central district, which covers 18 counties in Mid-Missouri.
Salting the roads ahead of the chance of ice will be difficult, Shafer said, because any rain could wash away their pretreatment.
“Treating ahead of time, we can’t be proactive in that regard. But we are being proactive by having crews out ready to respond however needed,” Shafer said.
The MoDOT traveler map displays the condition of major highways across the state, and updates regularly.
It’s possible that roads could become too slick for MoDOT and tow trucks. Drivers are advised to stay off the road if possible.
“Ice is nasty stuff. I would just recommend that if people don’t need go anywhere just stay at home,” Shafer said. “Tonight’s a good night to just stay at home if you can.”
