WINTER WEATHER UPDATES: Multiple crashes reported in Boone County
Boone County Joint Communications is reporting a wreck at East Broadway and North Tenth Street. The alert reports drivers need to use caution and avoid the area if possible.
A second wreck was reported minutes after the wreck at East Broadway and North Tenth Street. BCJC reports a crash has caused the Grindstone Pkwy at Rock Quarry Rd. Intersection to becomes blocked. The alert reports drivers need to use caution and avoid the area if possible.
A third alert was sent out by BCJC minutes after the first two about a crash at Scott Blvd at S Hwy KK.
Columbia Public Works bringing in 23-person crew for overnight work
Columbia Public Works will be bringing in a 23-person crew at 7 p.m. on Thursday due to winter weather. Their primary focus will be on treating first and second-priority roads.
The city is asking drivers to move vehicles off of snow routes on Thursday night because there could be more than two inches of snow accumulation. Snow routes can be identified by looking for the red, white and blue snow route signs or by checking the priority route viewer map found at CoMoSnow.com.
Public Works and City staff will continue to closely monitor road conditions and adjust operational plans as needed. As winter weather can be unpredictable, residents are encouraged to closely monitor the forecast and changing road conditions throughout the mid-Missouri area.
Road conditions begin in deteriorate in parts of Central Missouri
Authorities warned at drive-time Friday evening that roads were beginning to deteriorate as light snow fell in places such as Columbia.
Boone County dispatchers sent out warnings about an icy Highway 63 bridge over Rocky Fork Creek in northern Boone County and a crash on the Paris Road on-ramp to Highway 63 in Columbia. They later reported a crash that briefly shut down one lane of northbound 63 near Paris Road.
The Missouri Department of Transportation's travel information map showed that some snow was covering Highway 63 north of Columbia at about 5 p.m. State highways in the Mexico, Missouri, area and northern Montgomery County were covered, according to MoDOT.
The highway patrol warned drivers of the potential for slick roads Thursday night into Friday. ABC 17 Stormatrack forecasts call for up to 4 inches of snow in northern and western parts of Mid-Missouri, with lower amounts farther south.
Columbia Public Schools became the first district to cancel classes Friday, putting out the word at about 5:30 p.m. The district cited the overnight timing of the snow forecast in making the decision. Several snowstorms in February caused schools to use snow days programmed into their calendars, pushing the year later for Jefferson City School District students.
