Snowplow crews to begin annual dry snow run on Columbia streets

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia Public Works crews will do their annual dry snow run Thursday.

The dry snow run will begin at the Grissom Building on Lakeview Ave. around 10 a.m., with snowplow drivers and staff from multiple city departments reviewing safety procedures and practicing designated snow routes.

Residents may see city snowplows throughout the rest of the day.

Street Division maintains about 1,465 lane miles of roads and 1,100 cul-de-sacs each winter. Priority routes make up more than 691 lane miles and connect residents to emergency services, hospitals, schools and major transit corridors.

Last winter, the Public Works Department added five new snow-capable trucks to its fleet to improve reliability and efficiency. The new trucks replaced aging snow removal equipment. 

Winter maintenance across Columbia is shared between MoDOT and Boone County.

Boone County plows will begin their dry run Thursday and continue on Friday. Boone County plows will drive on county roads that border or cut through city limits.

According to the National Weather Service in St. Louis, Columbia saw a total of 7.3 inches of snow last winter. The average snowfall in Columbia is 14.9 inches.