ST. LOUIS (KMOX) -  As plows continue to make progress in clearing area roads and the amount of traffic picks up, so do the number of crashes.

That’s according to officials with the Missouri Department of Transportation, which held a joint news conference Wednesday morning with the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

“Already this morning as the traffic volumes have picked up, we have seen a large increase in the number of…we’ll call them minor fender-benders,” said MoDOT assistant district engineer Tom Blair.

Officials cautioned against becoming over-confident on the roadways as more and more pavement starts peeking through.

“You gotta remember, don’t give yourself that false sense of security,” explained Corporal Jeff Wilson with the Highway Patrol. 

As of late Wedneday morning, newly-reopened Interstate 70 as well as most interstates and arterial roads in the St. Louis area were mostly to partly covered with hard-packed snow and sleet.

And while the precipitation has come to an end, authorities with both agencies reminded area residents that harsh weather will continue through the rest of this week.

“Snow and sleet on the roads combined with the low temperatures and wind gusts of 30 mph can still be dangerous and motorists should definitely drive for conditions,” said Ed Hassinger, MoDOT’s district engineer for St. Louis.

MoDOT crews remain hard at work and are likely to remain so through the end of the week.

Copyright KMOX Radio