Bitter cold, snow to imperil travel

One broad scoop with this blade removes a large amount of snow and ice at a time. This MoDOT truck was clearing the Apache Flats entrance ramp to westbound US Hwy. 50 during a previous winter.
One broad scoop with this blade removes a large amount of snow and ice at a time. This MoDOT truck was clearing the Apache Flats entrance ramp to westbound US Hwy. 50 during a previous winter.

Mid-Missouri was placed under a winter weather advisory Wednesday due to the forecast of incoming accumulating snow and bitterly cold temperatures for Wednesday night and this morning.

Motorists were advised to restrict travel to necessary trips this morning. Road crews said morning rush hour commutes likely would be impacted by the precipitation coupled with extreme temperatures.

"When we get down to the 20s, we start to add calcium chloride to salt to have it last a little  longer," Cole County Public Works Director Larry Benz said. "Getting down to the single digits, there is almost nothing that is very effective."

Jefferson City Operations Division Director Britt Smith said even when they have to deal with extreme lows, there is one simple thing they know will help, the sun.

"If we have the material out there and the sun hits it, it can be effective," he said. "Getting a layer of salt down as the first snowfall hits helps with the traction."

Smith and Benz said they try to give drivers as many breaks as they can during winter storm operations.

"These dangerous windchills can play havoc on the equipment and the guys if they have to get out and make repairs," Benz said. "We try to have them run as close to a 14-hour shift as possible."

Cole County has 26 trucks to take care of 470 miles of road, 300 of which are paved. In Jefferson City, 23 route drivers deal with 250 miles of streets.

"Many times, the supervisors can't sleep because they're worrying, trying to figure out when to bring crews in," Smith said. "You want them in place, but you don't want them there too early. Sometimes, it's more art than science to make it a smooth operation."

As usual, whenever winter storms are in the forecast, Benz and Smith ask motorists to give themselves plenty of time to reach their destinations.