Columbia residents and motorists saw a few dozen snow plows on the road on Thursday, as Public Works crews conducted their annual dry snow run training exercise.
It is part of their winter weather preparedness efforts. Columbia Public Works engineering and operations manager Richard Stone tells 939 the Eagle that the exercise gives crews the chance to drive their snow routes before the first major storm:
“So we give them a chance to drive the routes, make note of any changes that are along the routes. If there is any construction … you know how you’re going to handle that,” Mr. Stone says.
Columbia snow plow drivers urge you to slow down when it’s snowing. The city’s snow plow operators were on Providence, Forum, the Business Loop and many other streets for Thursday’s training exercise. Mr. Stone says the street division has 45 full-time employees and that 39 of them are plow operators. They currently have four vacancies. Mr. Stone says they borrow other city employees for winter weather responses:
“Typically we’ll have between 25 and 30 people on a shift. So somewhere around 50 to 60 people for a winter weather response,” says Mr. Stone.
Columbia snow plow operators are responsible for 1,465 lane miles. 939 the Eagle’s Brian Hauswirth rode Thursday morning with plow driver James, an 18-year city employee. James urges you to slow down in snow, to drive safely, to leave early and to give plow drivers plenty of room.