Winter storm looms as flood cleanup continues
Travel discouraged overnight in KYTC District 10 counties
JACKSON, Ky. – As cleanup continues from weekend flooding that affected roads in nearly all of the 10 counties in the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) Department of Highways District 10, an approaching winter storm will result in difficult travel conditions.
Drivers are urged to stay off area roads beginning Tuesday night, Feb. 18, as snow moves into the area, followed by bitterly cold temperatures. The effectiveness of salt and other melting agents will be hampered by the low temperatures, and any roads that remain wet from high water, snow melt, or runoff will refreeze after sunset.
Creeks and rivers remain high from the weekend's rain, and a number of roads in Estill County remain flooded by backwater. A driver who skids off icy pavement into one of those streams, or drives into standing floodwaters, is taking an unnecessary risk that puts themselves and emergency responders in danger. Motorists are warned not to drive past "Road Closed" signs in areas where KYTC personnel have placed barricades. When water has receded to the point where a road is safe for travel, the barricades will be removed and drivers can legally use the route.
One road remain closed due to major breaks in pavement that resulted from the weekend's precipitation. KY 1162 in Morgan County is closed at milepoint 1.1. KY 2022 in Perry County was closed at milepoint 4.2, but that road has been repaired to the point where it is passable for traffic. A number of other roads have suffered breaks that have closed single lanes, including KY 28 near Chavies and KY 80 in the Big Creek area in Perry County.
Crews in each of District 10's counties are staying past their normal hours today to continue doing flood damage repairs and to be prepared for the onset of snow, which is predicted to begin overnight.
General road condition updates are posted on KYTC District 10's Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) pages. Follow these social media outlets for the most recent updates. Road status details are also available at goky.ky.gov.
District 10 includes Breathitt, Estill, Lee, Magoffin, Menifee, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Powell, and Wolfe counties in east-central and southeastern Kentucky.
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