KYTC Crews Clearing Downed Trees in Addition to Treating Roads as Ice Storm Moves Westward

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 3, 2022) – Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) “snow fighters” are having to clear downed trees in addition to treating roadways as a winter storm packing sleet and freezing rain moves across Kentucky, creating hazardous road conditions.

The commonwealth is in the path of a 2,000-mile-long storm front that stretches from Texas to Maine. The National Weather Service warned of “difficult to impossible travel conditions Thursday into Friday morning.”

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Gov. Andy Beshear and KYTC Secretary Jim Gray advised Kentuckians to avoid nonessential travel.

“Roadways will be dangerous and temperatures will be very low,” Gov. Beshear said.

“Our highway crews will do everything possible to keep roadways passable, but we advise everyone who can do so to stay off the road,” Secretary Gray said.

As the storm moved eastward, leaving ice-covered trees in its wake, KYTC crews, who are equipped with chainsaws, encountered downed trees in Caldwell, Christian, Hopkins and Webster counties. The Kentucky Division of Forestry sent a chainsaw crew to support tree clearing in Caldwell County.

Late Wednesday, KYTC engineers closed the U.S. 45 Ohio River Bridge between Paducah and Brookport, Illinois. The bridge has an open steel grid deck rather than solid pavement.

Gov. Beshear, Secretary Gray and Kentucky Emergency Management Director Michael Dossett held a second briefing on the storm today in Frankfort. Watch it on YouTube and read the full news release here.

Stay up to date by visiting Snowky.ky.gov for snow and ice information and GoKY.ky.gov for traffic and roadway information.

Partnership of the public: Help us serve you this winter season by doing the following four things:

Mask up to slow the spread of illness and to keep our essential personnel safe
Limit travel to only what is necessary when there’s snow and ice on the roads
Give our snowplows plenty of room on the road
Be ready for the worst when you’re on the road by making sure your vehicle is winter ready and you have essential items should you be stranded.

-HCWatchNews