KYTC District 5 ‘Snowfighters’ Prep for Arctic Storm
Crews ready to work through the night as storm approaches
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Dec. 22, 2022) – As the first significant winter storm of the season approaches, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) District 5 has activated its snow and ice plan.
The district maintenance staff will stay past closing today (Dec. 22) with a shift change at 12 a.m. on Friday (Dec. 23). Those crews will remain out in force salting roadways and plowing snow through Friday. All the district’s contractors will report to duty at 6 p.m. today. With the contractors supplementing the state workforce, the district will mobilize 174 salt trucks with plows.
The salt trucks will start treating the roads in the 60-minute to 90-minute window after the rain changes to snow but before roads typically freeze. This will allow the salt to stick instead of being washed away. The district has 8,500 tons of salt -- just at its Jefferson County East Maintenance Facility in Middletown. The state also stores tens of thousands of tons underground at the Louisville Mega Cavern.
Crews plan to use a calcium chloride additive that makes salt more effective in extreme temperatures. Flash freezing, however, is possible due to fast temperature drops. Drivers are reminded that bridges and overpasses freeze sooner than roadways. With rain expected this afternoon ahead of the snow, pretreating routes with brine will be ineffective in some areas as the solution can become diluted or wash away.
District 5 is responsible for clearing more than 3,500 single-lane miles of state-maintained highways in Bullitt, Franklin, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, and Trimble counties. Per an ongoing agreement with Louisville Metro government, the Metro Department of Public Works is responsible for the about 400 miles of state roads in Jefferson County. This frees up District 5 crews and contractors to focus on the interstates in the county.
As this winter storm progresses, District 5 will provide updates on its snow and ice removal operations on Facebook at facebook.com/KYTCDistrict5/ and on Twitter at twitter.com/KYTCDistrict5.
Motorists should plan ahead, watch forecasts to remain weather aware, and remember roads likely will not be clear until after the storm passes. Real-time traffic information for Jefferson, Bullitt and Oldham counties can be found at trimarc.org and goky.ky.gov for the entire state. Motorists are also encouraged to download the free WAZE app to check traffic conditions.
Visit snowky.ky.gov for snow and ice resources, like priority route maps and other useful information for driving in the winter.
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