SNOW WORRIES

Year’s first snow storm causes no issues for road crews

The first real snow storm this year in Central Missouri brought inches, but few problems for local road crews.

The first real snow storm this winter in Central Missouri didn’t cause many problems for local road crews.

Jefferson City Operations Division Director Britt Smith said their crews were out by 5:30 a.m. Saturday which was about the same time as the change over from rain to snow occurred.

“The pavement got covered quickly,” Smith said. “I thought we’d have a little more time, but the pavement temperature dropped very fast. The good news was the crews were already out.”

Light traffic also helped crews get streets treated faster. Smith said by 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon they had their operations wrapped up with the main thoroughfares such as Main Street, High Street classified as “mostly clear.”

Smith and Cole County Road Superintendent Brian Boyce said their departments will be monitoring for re-freezing overnight and into early Sunday morning.

“This wet snow made it easier to plow,” Boyce said. “It doesn’t bond to the pavement surface like a dry, cold snow.”

Boyce also noted they didn’t have to use as much salt during this storm.