Transportation Cabinet
Highway crews plowing, treating roads, battling ice

Motorists reminded to reduce speed, be alert for ice, highway equipment

FRANKFORT, Ky.  (Jan. 21, 2011) – Highway crews of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) today are plowing or treating roadways over the entire Commonwealth.

Crews resumed work at daybreak in the two westernmost districts of the Department of Highways – Paducah and Madisonville – where bitter cold caused ice to form on roads, bridges and overpasses, even after plowing, making travel unusually treacherous.

On the Purchase Parkway near Fulton, police units escorted northbound vehicles in groups at slow speed.

Temperatures below 20 degrees greatly diminish the ice-fighting properties of salt and calcium chloride, which makes for potentially hazardous driving.

KYTC crews work as long as necessary to keep roadways open in winter. The cabinet’s vehicle and equipment fleet includes 1,065 snow plows. In addition, the cabinet can call on more than 350 snow-removal contractors.

The cabinet reminds motorists:
 Avoid unncecessary travel.
 Exercise greater caution when driving. Slow down!
 Be prepared for slick conditions.
 Give a wide berth to snow plows and other heavy highway equipment.
 Eliminate distractions while behind the wheel.
 Bitter cold can turn something as simple as a flat tire into a life-threatening situation.  Motorists should carry winter-weight clothing and be prepared to deal with the cold.

Condition reports on major routes are available by calling 511 or by logging onto the 511 travel and traffic information website, 511.ky.gov.

The cabinet’s SAFE Patrol drivers began working an extended schedule today, reporting at 4 a.m. (local times) to assist motorists whose vehicles become disabled on Kentucky interstates and parkways. For SAFE Patrol assistance, call 511 or toll-free at 1-877-FOR-KYTC (1-877-367-5982.)

Activity by highway district:
DISTRICT 1 – Paducah
Counties Out:
  Treating:
          BALLARD
          HICKMAN
          FULTON
          FULTON
          GRAVES
          CALLOWAY
          LIVINGSTON
          TRIGG
          CRITTENDEN
          MARSHALL
          MCCRACKEN
          LYON
          CARLISLE

DISTRICT 2 – Madisonville
Counties Out:
  Plowing and treating:
          OHIO
          UNION
          MCLEAN
          DAVIESS
          WEBSTER
          HENDERSON
          HANCOCK
          CALDWELL
          CHRISTIAN
          HOPKINS
          MUHLENBERG

DISTRICT 3 – Bowling Green
Counties Out:
  Plowing and Treating:
          MONROE
          ALLEN
          SIMPSON
          METCALFE
          EDMONSON
          BARREN
          BUTLER
          WARREN
          LOGAN
          TODD

DISTRICT 4 – Elizabethtown
Counties Out:
  Plowing and Treating:
          TAYLOR
          NELSON
          WASHINGTON
          BRECKINRIDGE
          GREEN
          HARDIN
          GRAYSON
          MARION
          LARUE
          MEADE
          HART

DISTRICT 5 – Louisville
Counties Out:
  Spot Treating:
          BULLITT
          JEFFERSON
  Plowing and Treating:
          FRANKLIN
          SHELBY
          SPENCER
          TRIMBLE
          OLDHAM
          HENRY

DISTRICT 6 – Covington
Counties Out:
  Plowing and Treating:
          GRANT
          ROBERTSON
          OWEN
          CARROLL
          GALLATIN
          HARRISON
          PENDLETON
          BOONE
          BRACKEN
          KENTON
          CAMPBELL

DISTRICT 7 – Lexington
Counties Out:
  Spot treating:
          MADISON
  Plowing and Treating:
          SCOTT
          WOODFORD
          ANDERSON
          BOURBON
          MERCER
          JESSAMINE
          CLARK
          MONTGOMERY
          BOYLE
          GARRARD
          FAYETTE

DISTRICT 8 – Somerset
Counties Out:
  Plowing and Treating:
          LINCOLN
          CASEY
          PULASKI
          WAYNE
          RUSSELL
          MCCREARY
          CLINTON
          ROCKCASTLE
          CUMBERLAND
          ADAIR

DISTRICT 9 – Flemingsburg
Counties Out:
  Plowing and Treating:
          MASON
          NICHOLAS
          FLEMING
          BOYD
          GREENUP
          LEWIS
          ELLIOTT
          ROWAN
          BATH
          CARTER

DISTRICT 10 – Jackson
Counties Out:
  Plowing and Treating:
          POWELL
          BREATHITT
          LEE
          ESTILL
          MAGOFFIN
          OWSLEY
          MENIFEE
          MORGAN
          WOLFE
          PERRY

DISTRICT 11 – Manchester
Counties Out:
  Spot Treating:
          CLAY
          WHITLEY
          KNOX
          LAUREL
          BELL
  Plowing and Treating:
          JACKSON
          LESLIE
          HARLAN

DISTRICT 12 – Pikeville
Counties Out:
  Spot Treating:
          FLOYD
          JOHNSON
  Plowing and Treating:
          KNOTT
          LAWRENCE
          PIKE
          MARTIN
          LETCHER

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