City, MoDOT brace for winter storms with increased personnel
The state has upped its police and road maintenance staffs.
Published Jan. 30, 2009
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Andrew Worrall/Senior Staff Photographer An unidentified female passenger is moved to an ambulance after the Saturn sedan she was riding in slid through a curve and collided with a pickup truck near Rock Quarry Road and Capen Park Drive during Tuesday's snowstorm. Several weather-related accidents were reported in Missouri this week, resulting in five fatalities.
With five fatal traffic crashes attributed to the past week's inclement weather, officials have discussed preparations for the winter driving season.
"Drivers should always adjust their driving habits when there are inclement weather conditions since most accidents are a result of driving too fast for the road conditions," Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. John Hotz said.
Hotz said the department schedules more officers on days when they know there will be bad weather.
"If we know there will be inclement weather there will usually be a heavier number of troopers scheduled to work, either patrolling or assisting areas in need of additional assistance," Hotz said.
Columbia is also preparing for winter weather. Columbia Public Works spokeswoman Jill Stedem said the department used 18 snowplows to maintain 500 miles of city streets during winter weather.
"Routes of first priority include roads like Green Meadows or Vandiver that carry traffic through the city," Stedem said. "Roads of second priority include streets with schools, hospitals or bus routes."
Stedem said critical routes also include roads with hills or curves
According to the Missouri Department of Transportation's Web site, roads with the highest traffic volumes are cleared or treated first, followed by lower volume lettered and numbered routes.
"Generally, MoDOT begins preparations 12-24 hours ahead of winter storm systems, and is responsible in Columbia for major traffic veins like Providence and Stadium in addition to highways like 63 and 163," MoDOT maintenance engineer Michael Teel saud.
MoDOT District 5, which includes Boone County, employs 175 plow drivers and approximately 15 motor graders to clear the roadways of 13 mid-Missouri counties when winter weather strikes, Teel said.
"MoDOT buys salt and other abrasives, like sand, during the summer and fall before winter weather begins, then stores the supplies at a storage facility until winter," Teel said. "We also hire an additional 146 emergency maintenance workers who work in 24 hour shifts plowing roads during winter storms."