Friday, February 7, 2014

KyTC crews prep for yet another weather event

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet crews in District 1 are gearing up for another round of winter precipitation overnight. What is expected to be 1 to 2 inches of snow is expected to move across much of the region between about 10 p.m. and about noon Saturday.

A winter weather advisory issued by the National Weather Service indicates this will be a dry snow which should make it reasonably easy to plow off roadways. Motorists are asked to use appropriate caution if they plan to travel overnight. There may be some opportunity for snow to drift back over roadways after they are plowed.

Crews have spent the last two days restocking salt supplies. Trucks have been hauling salt from central storage facilities to individual counties so it can be available for use as needed.  KyTC District 1 spokesman Keith Todd noted that if this were a normal winter, engineers would be fairly pleased with their salt reserves. However, with one winter event right after another, they’re keeping a close eye on salt deliveries and are looking at ways to go into salt conservation mode in the future, if required.

KyTC District 1, headquartered in Paducah, is responsible for about 2,800 miles of highway in Kentucky’s 12 westernmost counties. Covering all state highways in the district is the equivalent of a trip from New York to Los Angeles. Crews may cover all highways in the district 2 or 3 times during a single winter weather event.