Wednesday, June 19, 2013

The latest local news, weather and high school sports in and around Columbia and Jefferson City

MoDOT preps for slick roads
Posted: 01.11.2012 at 8:54 PM
Meghan Lane

Meghan is a Live at Sunrise anchor.

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While school children across Mid-Missouri are doing their best snow dances, trying to get a day off from school, adults across the area are dreading what could be bad roads.

 

MoDOT said they are in good shape.

 

Since about 7:30 Wednesday night MoDOT crews were out on the roads preparing for the white stuff.

 

They were primarily in the northern districts where they thought the snow would be the worst.

 

The last time we saw snow here in Mid-Missouri was December 6.

 

It was the cause of a couple hundred car accidents, and left people questioning if MoDOT was prepared enough.

 

MoDOT Assistant Maintenance Engineer Jason Shafer said they were prepared, it was all just bad timing, since the snow fell right at rush hour.

 

He said this time it will be different.

 

"This time, the timing is going to be a lot more in our favor, so we're prepared just like we were last time,” Shafer said. “We're going to be able to hit the ground running and hopefully by the time everyone leaves for work in the morning, you really won't see anything to worry about."

 

But while snow was in the forecast Wednesday evening, so far, this winter has been extremely mild.

 

Just last week we saw temperatures in the 60's.

 

Not only has it been nice for people wanting to spend time outdoors, it's also been helpful for MoDOT's budget.

 

"Of the salt we purchase back in the fall, we've only used 5-percent if it,” Shafer said. “So that's a very good thing because salt at $60 a ton is the same price as asphalt at $60 a ton and you get about 2-hours of good with a ton of salt and you get 2-years of good with a ton of asphalt."

 

Shafer said the salt will stay good indefinitely.

 

What they have left over will be used next year, which will allow MoDOT to use the money they save for other things.

 

Even though Shafer said he expected the roads to be treated by the morning, he wanted drivers to slow down and use caution.


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