Kentucky Transportation Cabinet ‘Snowfighters’ On Alert for Holiday Wintry Mix
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 23, 2020) – Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) snowfighters are on alert for some wintry Christmas weather.
Temperatures that were unseasonably warm today are forecast to start dropping rapidly tonight and into Christmas Eve, along with precipitation that can freeze quickly on roadways. Chances of measurable snow increase as a winter storm moves from west to east. Accumulations of 1 to 1.5 inches in Central Kentucky and 3 to 5 inches in Eastern Kentucky are expected.
Christmas Day will be very cold, with temperatures below 30 degrees everywhere and dipping lower as one travels east.
KYTC salt and snow plow crews are prepared to respond as needed Thursday.
“Clearing our roadways of ice and snow is always our top winter priority,” KYTC Secretary Jim Gray said. “Our maintenance crews plan and prepare for it nearly year-round. They’re dedicated to this essential public service.”
More than 2,000 KYTC employees are available for efforts to treat and clear more than 63,000 lane miles of roads.
KYTC begins the current snow and ice season with 1,024 trucks with front-end blades, four others with tow-plows and 400 contract trucks. It also has stockpiles of salt, the largest being 100,000 tons stored underground in Louisville.
While road crews are out treating roads, motorists should:
- Exercise greater caution when driving. Slow down.
- Be prepared for slick conditions.
- Give lots of room to snow plows and other heavy highway equipment.
- Eliminate distractions while behind the wheel.
This year, the cabinet’s proactive planning has had to take into account the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which to date has killed more than 2,400 Kentuckians and has the potential for sidelining entire work crews and cause delays. The cabinet’s plans for reducing the risk of COVID-19 spread among its snow fighter crews include an emphasis on the basics – mandatory use of masks, hand washing and social distancing – plus strict limits on access to KYTC maintenance buildings in each county. When positive COVID-19 test results occur, employees are directed into quarantine, buildings and equipment are sanitized and buildings remain closed for at least two days.
Gov. Andy Beshear said the combination of COVID-19 and bad weather is all the more reason to stay healthy at home and help limit spread of the virus. “But when travel is essential, maximum cooperation is needed with the Transportation Cabinet crews who are operating the plows and salt spreaders,” Gov. Beshear said.
Keep up with traffic and road conditions at GoKY.ky.gov and Waze. Information about Gov. Beshear’s actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is here.
