State, county and city officials were asking drivers to stay off the roads Friday afternoon to prevent accidents and to allow plows to clear the snow.
From the time snow began falling through about 3 p.m. Friday, 41 accidents had been reported to the Columbia Police Department.
“What we’re really trying to do is keep people off the roads so they can get cleared,” said Columbia Fire Department Battalion Chief Steven Sapp.
Columbia Public Works crews were working 12-hour shifts to clear “first priority streets,” which include the city’s major arteries, such as Broadway, Garth Ave., West Blvd., Nifong Blvd., and Scott Blvd.
Local law enforcement was warning that drivers may be ticketed if out on the roads. No tickets had been issued as of 3:30 p.m., Sapp said.
The Missouri Department of Transporation was reporting that both Interstate 70 and U.S. 63 were at least still partially covered with snow late Friday afternoon.
For updates on road conditions, call the Missouri State Highway Patrol at 800-222-6400 or go to the Department of Transportation’s Web site at www.modot.org and select the ‘Road Conditions Map’ or call 1-888-ASK MODOT (1-888-2756-6368).