Parts of Kansas City saw the first snow dusting of the season Wednesday and road crews in both Kansas and Missouri said they were prepared.
According to MoDOT, workers are watching the forecast and standing by, ready for the return of harsh winter weather to northwestern Missouri.
They said plows were loaded with salt to clear roads in case snow and ice hit.
When are roads plowed?
MoDOT plows major roadways like I-44, I-49, Route 60, Route 65 and Route 249 first.
Crews will work around the clock until major roads are back to normal.
When major routes become clear or mostly clear, crews will plow less busy roads, treating hills, curves and intersections with ice/snow removal chemicals.
MoDOT said it is training lots of new workers and that crews have been in since 11:30 p.m. Tuesday.
They also pretreated roads with salt on Tuesday.
Here’s a look at MoDOT by the numbers:
- It has at least 300 pieces of snow-clearing equipment, including 295 snowplows
- More than 590 fulltime snowplow operators, along with more than 50 emergency snowplow operators
- 31,000 tons of salt disbursed among 28 maintenance facilities
- $3.5 million spent on snow-clearing operations last year
We know you know how to drive in inclement weather, but here are some reminders from Kansas Department of Transportation:
- Completely clean frost and snow off all windows, mirrors, and lights, and use headlights to provide optimum visibility.
- Slow down, accelerate and brake gently, and increase following distance between other vehicles.
- Don’t use cruise control.
- Allow for more travel time.
- Always wear a seat belt, and secure children in the proper child safety seats.
- Slow down and move over for stopped emergency vehicles and maintenance crews.
- If possible, remain buckled up and in your vehicle for protection from other vehicles.
- If involved in a crash, or need assistance, call 911, or contact the Kansas Highway Patrol at *47 (*HP) from a cell phone. Call *582 (*KTA) on the Kansas Turnpike.
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