 Tuesday, Mayor Craig Greenberg and city and community leaders highlighted the city’s efforts to prepare for winter season, including new equipment, staffing improvements, and enhanced communication efforts designed to keep residents safe and informed during snow and ice events.
“We’ve been planning, collaborating, and innovating to respond even more quickly and effectively when winter weather arrives,” said Mayor Greenberg. “Our crews are trained, our routes are ready, and we’re going to keep learning and improving.”
Louisville Metro’s Snow Team is made up of more than 200 employees and supported by more than 100 pieces of equipment. The Snow Team includes staff from Louisville Metro Public Works (Louisville Department of Transportation and Solid Waste Management Services), Louisville Parks and Recreation, Fleet Services, Codes & Regulations’ Vacant Lots division, and Emergency Services.
Investments and Improvements
Louisville Metro has added eight tandem-axle dump trucks and several pickup trucks with plows, bringing the fleet to more than 100 vehicles. Sixteen new brine tank replacements maintain 24 tanks citywide for pretreating roads. Plows also have new curb guards and upgraded carbide blades to improve performance and reduce downtime.
The Roads and Maintenance Division is nearly fully staffed, and Louisville Parks and Recreation has expanded its snow team to more than 30 employees, with additional dispatch staff improving coordination during storms.
Snow Routes
Louisville Metro has updated its snow routes and online snow map, available on the Metro Snow Removal webpage. The map shows all 111 designated snow routes and tracks plowing and salting progress during active snow events.
“Our goal is to keep the city moving safely and efficiently during winter weather,” said Bill Bell, Director of Louisville Metro’s Department of Transportation. “While our crews focus on major routes that connect neighborhoods, hospitals, emergency services, and major employers, we encourage residents to plan ahead for local streets.”
Interstates and ramps are maintained by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC). Private and neighborhood streets are not part of Metro’s snow routes. Residents should plan ahead by working with neighbors or homeowners’ associations to manage local snow and ice removal.
What residents can do
Residents are encouraged to take steps to help keep the community safe during winter weather:
- Move vehicles off snow routes when snow is expected to allow plows to clear from curb to curb.
- Avoid pushing snow back into the roadway or sidewalks when shoveling.
- Clear sidewalks, storm drains, and fire hydrants near your property when it is safe to do so.
- If you must travel, drive slowly and allow extra time, especially on bridges and overpasses, which can freeze before other roadways.
- Give snowplows and salt trucks plenty of space while they’re treating and clearing roads. These vehicles move slowly and make wide turns. Keeping a safe distance helps our crews work efficiently and keeps everyone safe.
- Contact Metro311 to report roadway hazards (i.e. tree debris blocking a street). In the true case of an emergency, like a downed power line or fire, call 911.
- Sign up for LENSAlert and download the LouReady app to receive emergency notifications.
You can watch the full press announcement here on Metro TV's YouTube channel. View the press release on louisvilleky.gov.
More information, including winter tips from partners including LG&E, Louisville Fire, and the Louisville Water Company, can be found on the Mayor's website.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg has announced Wesley Sydnor, P.E., as the new executive director of Louisville Metro Public Works. With more than 25 years of experience in engineering, infrastructure management, and public service, he brings deep technical expertise and a strong commitment to community-focused leadership.
Sydnor spent the first eight years of his career in engineering consulting before joining the Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) in 2008. During his tenure at MSD, he played a pivotal role in EPA compliance, green infrastructure initiatives, stormwater quality programs, regulatory affairs, and public engagement. He also led collaborative efforts to promote sustainable economic growth and regional infrastructure partnerships.
“Throughout his time with MSD, he has been a trusted and collaborative partner, moving key projects forward that make our city better,” said Mayor Greenberg. “His proven leadership, expertise, and deep commitment to public service make him the right fit to lead Public Works. I’m confident that under his direction, the department will continue building a safer, healthier, and stronger Louisville. I also want to thank our DOT Director Bill Bell and Assistant Director of Solid Waste Management Services Shannon Logan for their leadership this past month during the transition.”
In recent years, Sydnor has worked extensively with state and federal partners in Frankfort and Washington, D.C., advocating for clean water initiatives and project funding to support Louisville Metro’s long-term infrastructure goals. His ability to connect with community members, elected officials, and agency partners has been a hallmark of his public service career.
"It is a tremendous honor to be named as Louisville Metro's Executive Director of Public Works. I can't wait to lead the fantastic team of professionals that work every day to make our community safer, healthier, and a great place to live, work, and play,” Sydnor said. “We will continue to build on the momentum of delivering projects, improving safety, and providing high quality service. Our work supports the economy and directly impacts the quality of life for the community. It is crucial. I want to thank Mayor Greenberg and Deputy Mayor George for this opportunity to serve."
Sydnor is a member of the 2016 Louisville Business First - 40 under 40 - class, a 2020 Bingham Fellow and the 2007 Young Engineer of the Year for the Louisville Chapter of the National Society for Professional Engineers - Kentucky.
He lives in the Hikes Point area. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, reading, and is an avid owner of running shoes.
Sydnor will officially join Public Works in his new role on Dec. 8.
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 As part of Louisville Metro's Reimagine 9th Street project and the upcoming conversion of Muhammad Ali Boulevard and Chestnut Street from one-way to two-way traffic, several intersections will see traffic control changes beginning December 1.
At these locations, traffic signals will switch to red flashing mode and four-way stop signs will be installed. This setup will remain in place for at least 90 days while drivers adjust to the new multiway stop pattern.
The intersections on Muhammad Ali Boulevard that will be converted to all-way stops during this evaluation period include 13th Street, 15th Street, 16th Street, 18th Street, 26th Street, 28th Street, 30th Street, and Louis Coleman Jr. Drive.
On Chestnut Street, the intersections at 13th Street, 15th Street, 16th Street, 18th Street, 26th Street, 28th Street, and 30th Street will also be converted.
During the evaluation period, Louisville Metro’s Department of Transportation engineers will monitor traffic operations and safety. If it becomes clear that a traditional traffic signal is still the safest and most effective option, the stop signs will be removed and the signal will return to normal operation. If the evaluation confirms that the intersection functions safely as a multiway stop, the traffic signal will be permanently removed.
These changes support the broader goals of the Reimagine 9th Street project, which aims to build safer, more connected, and more people-focused streets throughout the corridor.
 The holiday season in downtown Louisville officially kicked off last week when Louisville Metro’s annual Christmas tree arrived at Jefferson Square Park. The delivery is a true community effort, supported each year by Louisville Parks and Recreation, Urban Forestry, LG&E, LMPD, and the Department of Transportation’s electrical maintenance team.
Once the tree is safely delivered, the real magic begins. The Louisville Metro Department of Transportation’s electrical maintenance crews are now hard at work decorating the tree and the park, carefully hanging between 20,000 and 25,000 lights on the tree itself and more than 100,000 lights throughout the rest of Jefferson Square. It’s a task that requires skill, precision, and plenty of teamwork — and one the crews look forward to each year.
For many of our employees, this project is a highlight of the season. They say the long hours and cold mornings are worth it because they do it for the kids and families who come downtown to experience the joy of the holidays. In addition to our electrical team, staff from Facilities, the Special Events team, and multiple partner agencies all play a role in bringing this festive display to life. It takes a village, and Louisville’s Metro teams show up year after year to make it happen.
All the hard work will shine bright at Light Up Louisville on December 6 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., when the lights will be officially turned on. We hope to see you there as we celebrate the season and the dedicated teams that make this holiday tradition possible.
Closings
All staffed recycling drop-off locations, leaf drop-off locations, Haz Bin and the Waste Reduction Center will be closed Thursday, November 27, Friday, November 28, and Saturday, November 29.
Waste collection delays
There will be no residential garbage, recycling, or yard waste collection within the Urban Services District on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27. Residents who normally have collection on Thursdays, will have service on Friday instead. The regular Friday collection will be on Saturday instead.
To view your waste collection schedule and stay informed about changes and holidays, use our Recycle Coach app. Residents outside the Urban Services District who rely on private haulers for garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection should consult those haulers about their holiday collection schedule.
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Haz Bin to open Tuesday, December 2
 Beginning Tuesday, December 2, the Haz Bin will resume its regular operating schedule for residential household hazardous waste disposal.
📍 Location: 7501 Grade Lane
🕒 Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Thank you for doing your part to keep hazardous materials out of our environment. For more information on accepted items and guidelines, visit Louisvilleky.gov/HazBin.
 🌍 Become a kNOw Waste Ambassador and help Louisville lead the way toward a cleaner, greener future!
Our ambassador program is your chance to learn practical skills, share knowledge, and inspire positive change in your community. Through a free training course and hands-on volunteer and education opportunities, you’ll gain the tools to reduce waste, promote recycling, and educate others about sustainable living.
✅ Learn. Lead. Make an impact in your community!
👉 Apply here: https://louisvilleky.wufoo.com/forms/z4lmlaf0jb3tbj/
Upcoming paving projects scheduled for this week can be found on our "Paving" page on louisvilleky.gov, as well as our interactive Louisville Metro Paving Dashboard where you can view paving projects scheduled for the year and conditions of city streets.
You can also access the page and dashboard by clicking on the "Paving" button below.
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Serve the Louisville community through a rewarding public service career! The department of Louisville Metro Public Works is currently hiring.
IMPORTANT! The link below is for all of Metro jobs currently open. To learn about career opportunities specifically in Public Works, once you've clicked the link, follow these three easy steps:
- Click the filter tab
- Click "Departments"
- Click "Public Works" on the dropdown menu
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/louisvilleky
To receive automatic waste collection reminders and real-time notifications, download Recycle Coach, our waste information and calendar app at the App Store or on Google Play.
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