Copyright ABC17News.com
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Despite no flurries in Wednesday's forecast, Columbia residents might see snowplow trucks traveling across the city. Columbia’s Public Works Department will hold its annual Dry Snow Run training exercise on Wednesday to prepare for the upcoming winter season. This winter, the department will add five new snow-capable trucks to its fleet to improve reliability and efficiency. Public Works engineering and operations manager Richard Stone, who is in charge of snow response on city streets, told ABC 17 News in October that the department has about 30 vehicles that it uses for regular snow maintenance. He said the new trucks will replace aging snow removal equipment. Two are expected to arrive in November and three in January. The dry snow run was set to begin at the Grissum Building on Lakeview Avenue around 10 a.m., with snowplow drivers and staff from multiple city departments reviewing safety procedures and practicing designated snow routes. The exercise helps drivers familiarize themselves with routes, identify new traffic patterns or construction zones, and ensure equipment is ready before the first snowfall. Columbia’s Street Division maintains about 1,465 lane miles of roads and 1,100 cul-de-sacs each winter, with priority routes covering more than 691 lane miles. When snowfall is less than 4 inches, crews focus on clearing priority routes and may address neighborhood streets during regular business hours if conditions allow. When snowfall exceeds 4 inches, crews operate around the clock to restore near-normal conditions on major roads before moving into residential areas. The city deems streets passable when a front-wheel-drive vehicle can safely travel one lane below the posted speed limit.
