MODOT crews preparing for winter storm

(From MODOT)

With a winter storm bearing down on southwest Missouri, Missouri Department of Transportation crews are readying snow removal equipment and doing other work to prepare for the impending winter weather.

Today, MoDOT crews are installing snow plows on dump trucks, placing salt spreaders into dump truck beds and making sure the spreaders are filled with salt and other snow removal chemicals.

Starting as early as 5 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, crews will be on the road ahead of the storm which is forecasted to begin in the far southern counties in Missouri.

Each MoDOT snow plow is assigned to a circuit of roads, with crews taking care of the most heavily-traveled roadways first including I-44, I-49, Route 60, Route 65, Route 71, Route 54 and Route 13. Crews will try to get down lesser-traveled routes as quickly as possible and will make sure to treat hills, curves and intersections.

Road-clearing crews will do their best to keep up with the falling winter precipitation, but will not be able to keep roads entirely clear until the storm moves out of the area.

Crews will be on the road 24-hours a day beginning Thursday morning until all major roads are clear, working throughout the weekend if necessary.

Drivers Urged to Use Caution

MoDOT also advises drivers to be prepared for driving on snowy or icy roads and to pay special attention to changing road conditions.

To get the latest road conditions, drivers can check MoDOT's Traveler Information Map.

Drivers can also stay up to date on the latest conditions by following MoDOT on Facebook,Twitter and Google+.