ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – Road crews on both sides of the river are gearing up for what could be a very busy few days once the upcoming storm hits.
A significant winter storm system arrives late Saturday night and will continue all day Sunday and into Monday. The entire viewing area will be impacted but in different ways.
All is clear now and road conditions should be fine for Friday and most of Saturday but once the storm arrives Saturday night, things could certainly change, with driving potentially becoming very treacherous.
In a social media post, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) says most of Missouri is expecting the first big winter storm of the season this weekend. The agency is advising drivers to prepare ahead, reach their destination before the storm arrives, and if possible, remain in their current location.
MoDOT officials are detailing what they are calling their ‘plowing priorities.’ MoDOT acknowledges that there is not enough equipment or workers to clear all of the highways right away.
The agency says that it will first focus on all of the interstates and higher-volume highways, then MoDOT trucks will move on to lower-volume state-numbered or lettered routes, and finally, crews will clean up shoulders, bridge edges and interchanges.
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is also putting out information to drivers about using caution during the storm and allowing for extra travel time as IDOT crews try to clear roadways. Pre-treatment lines have already been placed on some roadways around the area.
MoDOT is planning a 2:30 p.m. news conference Friday that is set to talk more about its plans for combating the winter storm.