State Highway Crews on Duty to Fight Icy Roads in Northeast Kentucky
Heavy snow and ice expected; avoid travel if possible
FLEMINGSBURG, Ky. (9 AM Jan. 5, 2025) – State salt truck and plow crews are on duty in all northeast Kentucky counties today as forecasters expect an approaching winter storm to blanket the region in moderate to heavy snow and ice. Kentuckians are encouraged to avoid non-essential travel.
Crews in Bath, Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Fleming, Greenup, Lewis, Mason, Nicholas, and Rowan counties will remain on 12-hour shifts to patrol, treat roads with salt, and plow snow to keep roadways passable.
The National Weather Service says storm intensity, freezing rain, and ice – especially along the I-64 corridor – will create hazardous to treacherous driving conditions Sunday through Monday. Travel impacts could extend beyond Monday due to ongoing arctic temps.
State snowfighters have pretreated roads where possible and will stay out in force with plows and salt trucks, but the likelihood of snowy and icy roads will remain high until well after the storm passes.
“This winter storm is serious, and the extreme cold we’re facing days afterward will make travel more hazardous and impact the speed of even our best road treatments, especially after dark,” said Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray. “Our focus is to keep priority routes open, like interstates and parkways, before moving to other routes. Our force of state and contracted crews are ready and will be active. Motorists should avoid unnecessary travel or exercise caution if they must be on the roads by packing an emergency car kit, driving distraction-free and slowing down.”
The threat of ice will also elevate dangerous road conditions and increase the likelihood of downed trees and power lines. Remember to never touch or moved downed utility lines and treat dark traffic signals as four-way stops.
With more than 1,400 plow trucks available and more than 2,300 staff and crew members, KYTC maintains most roads, streets and bridges that are part of the State Highway System, including interstates, parkways, and U.S. route designations. Crews operate on a four-tier priority system to keep people and commerce moving in the most effective way.
Emergency Car Kit Suggested Items For Drivers
- First aid kit
- Extra coat, gloves, and blankets or sleeping bag
- Non-perishable food and water
- Baby formula, diapers, wipes
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Portable phone chargers
- Pet food, water, leash, bowl
- Medications
- Ice scraper and jumper cables
- Shovel, and a bag of sand or litter
What to Do if Traffic Signals are Not Working:
- Flashing yellow, proceed with caution
- Flashing red, treat as a stop sign
- No signal lights, treat as a 4-way stop
What to Do When a Downed Power Line is on the Roadway:
- Never touch or drive over a fallen power line; report the issue to the power company
- If a power line has fallen on your vehicle, STAY INSIDE, do not exit, and call 911
- Assume all downed power lines are live and DO NOT attempt to move
Visit SnowKY.ky.gov for snow and ice resources, like priority route maps, tips and highway district updates. Real-time traffic information is available through apps like Waze or online at GoKY.ky.gov.
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