Drivers should not expect major improvements to roads overnight

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Crews with Columbia Public Works and Boone County Road and Bridge continue to fight the snow. Crews are plowing roads, but because the area has seen so much snowfall and the extreme cold temperatures, it is more difficult to clear them.

A 27-person crew with the city reported in at 7 p.m. to clear roads.

Ashlyn Sherman with Columbia Public Works said crews are focusing on priority routes until crews get down to the pavement.

"Once that happens we'll be able to put some treatment on the roads," she said.

Salt does not work as well on the roads in the extreme cold.

Sherman said drivers should expect snow-packed roads.

"Those can be passable just depending on situations, especially with front-wheel drive," she said.

She said overnight drivers should expect slick spots on roads and the possibility of black ice.

The city is asking people not to park on priority routes because Columbia has seen more than two inches of snow.

Greg Edington with Boone County Road and Bridge said the department would have around 10 people out plowing routes in the county Monday night.

He said crews will use materials sparingly, like on problem spots.

He said the snow is drifting in areas where it is flat recovering roads in some parts.

"North of the county up kind of toward Sturgeon it will drift a lot worse because it's a lot flatter, so we're having to pay some extra special attention to those areas," Edington said.

He said drivers should stay home if they can, even into Tuesday morning. He said it will take crews several hours after the snow stops to get roads clear.

"Given the really really cold temperatures, I would suggest if you could do it from home, do it from home," Edington said.