Every winter in Missouri, we turn on the TV and hear that a winter storm is on its way. The forecast calls for six to twelve inches of snow—but the next morning, many of us wake up to find our roads still buried under ice and snow, making travel dangerous and commutes impossible.The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) does what it can—but when temperatures drop too low, salt becomes ineffective, and road clearing often lags behind the needs of Missouri drivers. It’s time to modernize our approach to winter weather road maintenance.One proven solution is pre-treating roads before snow begins to fall. This preventive strategy lays down a brine or chemical mixture that helps melt snow and ice on contact. The result: safer roads, fewer accidents, and less disruption to daily life and commerce.To make this possible on a large scale, the state should accept competitive bids from private contractors to handle pre-treatment and snow removal across Missouri. This approach would not only improve efficiency and responsiveness—it would also create jobs, support local businesses, and reduce costs for taxpayers through competition and accountability.The estimated investment for a statewide, pre-treatment program would be around $45–55 million annually, which includes materials, labor, and contractor equipment costs. However, by leveraging private contracts rather than relying solely on state-owned fleets, Missouri could save an estimated $20–25 million each year in taxpayer dollars through reduced equipment maintenance, lower storage costs, and more efficient use of labor resources.When winter hits, Missourians deserve roads that are safe, reliable, and well-prepared—not an empty promise of “we’ll get to it soon.” Let’s bring innovation, competition, and common sense to our winter road maintenance system—and keep Missouri moving forward, no matter the weather.