COLUMBIA, MO (February 7, 2011) -

The city of Columbia Public Works Department is continuing to work on snow removal today. Crews are widening intersections and doing additional cleanup work. At this time, they will not focus on clearing additional driving lanes on residential streets. Widening residential streets will only put snow back into residents’ driveways and more snow in front of mailboxes. Crews are making every effort to continue cleaning up without plowing driveways shut again. Temperatures are predicted to rise toward the end of the week. As the snow starts to melt, crews will be able to do more plowing on residential streets.

Crews are continuing to work on snow removal in cul-de-sacs. There are more than 1,100 cul-de-sacs in Columbia with nowhere to put the snow, and it is impossible for snowplows to maneuver. Front-end loaders and backhoes are being used, but with so many cul-de-sacs to clear, this has been a slow process. 

Residents should not call Joint Communications to report that their street has not been plowed. These numbers are set up for emergencies and public safety concerns. City snowplows are equipped with GPS units, so Public Works can tell which streets have and have not been plowed.