ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Department of Transportation is now treating the roads ahead of this second wave of snow, unlike its earlier plan to hold off on treatment over fears of refreezing.
The highways surrounding MoDOT headquarters Tuesday morning were fairly clear as cars made tracks in the highway lanes. On- and off-ramps, however, were often snow-packed.
MoDOT had said it was not going to treat the roads in advance of the first wave of snow because it feared product would blow off the roads or possibly contribute to a refreezing problem with this extreme cold.
During the calm between the two storms, however, MoDOT said crews did begin treating roads as workers plowed that first batch.
“That will help us get an advantage of it when it comes down tonight,” Bob Becker, MoDOT District Maintenance Engineer for St. Louis, said. “Even if this snow does stop at three or four in the morning, there are going to be issues tomorrow morning. There will be snow on the roadway.”
MoDOT officials noticed light traffic Tuesday morning, which helped make room for snowplows. They hope that continues.