COLUMBIA — Columbia Public Works is gearing up for the first snowfall of the season Saturday, with 17 members of their crew set to be deployed at 5 a.m. Pavement temperatures are expected to be near freezing, and the city will salt the roads early to limit slippery conditions.
Missouri State Highway Patrol public information officer, Kyle Green, said the snow can create problems for roads and traffic on Saturday morning.
‘Based on the current forecast, it looks like we may be getting around 2-3 inches which can certainly be problematic, but will hopefully be on the lower end of things,’ Green said.
‘Crews will initially focus on pretreating priority routes to help reduce slickness and improve traction,’ the city said in a news release. ‘Once snow begins to accumulate, efforts will shift to plowing and treating priority routes to maintain safer travel conditions.’
Columbia Public Work said it will prioritize main roads and intersections to minimize disruptions caused by the snow, with the Mizzou football game against the Arkansas Razorbacks coinciding on the same day.
John Ogan, the Columbia Public Works spokesperson, advises drivers to allow extra time for travel and to use caution when commuting Saturday morning.
‘Drive well under the speed limit and give yourself extra time to arrive,’ Ogan said. ‘Don’t follow other vehicles too closely and increase your stopping distance when approaching intersections.’
Ogan doesn’t expect any specific challenges when trying to eliminate the dangerous conditions; however, he said his team is prepared to tackle any challenges that may arise.
Columbia Public Work’s crews conducted a dry snow run event earlier this month to review procedures and ensure they are fully prepared to handle the snowy conditions efficiently.
‘We had a dry snow run event on Nov. 7, and drivers used that day to reacquaint themselves with their routes and review a lot of safety procedures,’ Ogan said. ‘It was an opportunity for some of our more experienced drivers to train some of the newer drivers.’
For those heading to the Mizzou football game on Saturday, Ogan suggests individuals take advantage of the city’s public transit program to reduce traffic and complications.
‘If you are heading to the game, you should take advantage of the free game day shuttles that we operate. You can park downtown in a city garage and have a roof over your car,’ Ogan said. ‘That allows you to avoid a lot of the traffic and parking concerns near the stadium.’
Columbia’s parking garages are free on the weekends, and users can track the position of the shuttle with either of the following apps: DoubleMap Bus Tracker or ETA Spot.
With preparations set to be underway early Saturday morning, City Public Works ensured the community they are doing everything to keep residents and visitors as safe as possible when traveling.
Get immediate weather updates from the KOMU 8 First Alert Weather team with the KOMU 8 Weather App for Apple and Android.
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