Crews will monitor roads overnight

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Crews with public works departments around mid-Missouri are preparing for the winter weather moving into the area.

In Boone County, the Boone County Public Works Department plans to have one truck on standby in case they need to treat bridges. Employees with the department will monitor the roads and treat them if necessary.

Cole County Public Works has a similar plan. Director Larry Benz said the drizzle on Wednesday made it difficult to pretreat roads, and can even make treatment ineffective. The agency will have a full crew on standby, including mechanics, since it is the first winter-like weather of the season.

"With what we've got right now we'll probably treat with regular salt in the morning. Normally we try to get out ahead of time and keep it treated with a beat juice saline mixture, but with the rain, it would just wash it off," he said. "So, right now we'll probably have to go out and at least spot-check the bridges and put a little salt down."

Columbia Public Works plans to have a crew of around 10 people come in at 3 a.m. This plan is subject to change depending on how the weather changes throughout the evening and overnight.

"Right now what we would make sure that everyone in the community is aware of is that there is a pretty high potential for wide-spread slick conditions around four to about nine o'clock in the morning," said Richard Stone with Columbia Public Works.

He said crews will be out on their routes to be ready if they need to treat roads or bridges.

Both Cole County and Columbia Public Works are warning drivers to slow down and be extra cautious while people adjust to the changing weather.