JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Missouri transportation officials are getting ready for winter.

The state Transportation Department says crews are repairing equipment, building up supplies and testing their procedures for handling winter emergencies.

Officials say the department cut its use of road salt by nearly 70,000 tons last winter despite unusually heavy amounts of snow and ice.

Crews will focus first on major and heavily traveled roads, then plow those that get less traffic.