Public works hopes to have neighborhood streets cleared by Friday night

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Flurries have stopped in Mid-Missouri, but snow and ice still cover the roads and sidewalks.

Road crews are working overnight to clear snow and ice off roads. Columbia Public Works said it aims to have neighborhood streets cleared by Friday night. Boone County Road & Bridge tells ABC 17 it hopes to have all roads passable by Thursday night. Both road crews will continue to work until all streets are cleared of ice and snow.

Columbia Public Works is asking residents to stay off the roads Thursday night if possible to give crews room to clear out the snow.

"Additionally, if you have the option, please park in your driveway and not on the road, which allows plow crews the opportunity to plow roadways quickly, safely and more efficiently for everyone," John Ogan with Columbia Public Works said in a news update.

Greg Edinton, director of Boone County Road & Bridge, told ABC 17 in an interview that crews have been able to work through snow and ice on Thursday to clear the streets for drivers.

"We're gonna be working behind the scenes to make hopefully a safe commute in the morning," Edington said.

As roads clear, more people are out and about, and more businesses are open on Thursday than Wednesday.

ABC 17 crews came across Texas-native truck driver Marcus Gray. Gray slept in his truck overnight as he got stuck during his route in Columbia. However, a group of generous Columbia residents helped him get his truck out of the snow.

"Right at the crest of the hill, my truck started sliding backward," Gray said. "So, I had to dig out, I got help from some of the local guys in the community."

Gray called the group of residents that helped him "angels" and "saints" in an interview. One of them, Nathan Almquist, told ABC 17 it was a group effort.

"Slowly but surely, everybody with a good heart stopped, and we all got together, and we got him out," Almquist said.