State highway crews preparing for winter weather

 

Snow in forecast this week

FLEMINGSBURG, Ky. – State highway crews are preparing for snow duty as a winter storm once again advances on northeast Kentucky.

At 3 p.m., snow was beginning to fall in Flemingsburg, with accumulation reported along grassy areas. Roadways remained clear.

National Weather Service forecasts call for a chance of continued accumulation overnight and Tuesday, Jan. 26, across much of Kentucky Department of Highways District 9, which includes Bath, Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Fleming, Greenup, Lewis, Mason, Nicholas and Rowan counties.

Crew members in those counties are ready – as they always are during winter months – to work 12-hour shifts to keep 2,000 miles of roadway clear with the district’s fleet of 75 snow plows and salt trucks. Currently, about 13,500 tons of snow-melting rock salt are stockpiled at district facilities.

With wintry weather expected again Thursday and Friday, highway crews will remain on alert throughout the week.

To learn more, visit Highway District 9’s YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/HighwayDistrictNine to watch a video on crews’ winter weather readiness.

Motorists are reminded to always use extra caution when driving in winter weather and remember that bridges and overpasses typically freeze before surface-level roadways.

You can keep up with road conditions and snow removal activities by following District 9 online at http://twitter.com/kytcdistrict9. Information is also available via Facebook by searching for the “KYTC Highway District Nine” fan page. Or, keep up with snow plows statewide using KYTC’s online Snow & Ice Treatment Map at http://kytcgis.ky.gov/snow_ice/.

Kentucky travel information is available by dialing 511 or visiting online at www.511.ky.gov.

Road conditions are described as follows:

• Wet pavement – Ice could form as temperatures drop.
• Partly covered – Markings may be obscured by snow, slush or ice.
• Mostly covered by snow, slush or ice.
• Completely covered by snow, slush or ice.
• Impassable – Conditions unsuitable for all but emergency travel.