Transportation Cabinet
Transportation Cabinet Releases Costs of Season’s First Winter Weather Event - $670,000 in State Resources Allocated

FRANKFORT, KY (December 12, 2005) - Preliminary figures are now available for the cost of dealing with the first winter weather event of the season. Transportation Cabinet road crews were out as early as last Tuesday pre-treating roadways in anticipation of the winter weather.  The mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain advanced across the commonwealth last Thursday.

Below is a summary of resources employed and expenses required for dealing with this winter event:

Salt Used                                   22,000 tons

Salt Brine Used                          408,000 gallons

Liquid Calcium Chloride              67,000 gallons

Labor Cost for State Forces        $284,000

Material Cost                              $233,000

Equipment Cost for State Fleet    $153,000

Total Cost State Resources         $670,000

A full compliment of local highway department crews was activated to clear a path through snow and ice throughout Kentucky.  Crews were out early pre-treating and were on the roads well after the wintry precipitation stopped falling to ensure our roads were in the best condition possible.  Drivers are reminded to be on the lookout for snowplows during winter weather.  Please give the snowplow drivers the space they need to clear a path through snow and ice.  Motorists are also reminded that the Transportation Cabinet is using a standardized set of terms to describe road conditions during winter weather:

Wet Pavement – The roadway is wet. Ice could form as temperatures drop.

Partly Covered – The roadway is partly covered with snow, slush or ice. Markings may be obscured.

Mostly Covered – The roadway is mostly covered with snow, slush or ice. Roadway markers may be difficult to see because of packed snow and rutting conditions.

Completely Covered – The roadway is completely covered with snow, slush or ice and markings are obscured.

Impassable – Roadway conditions are not suitable for travel unless required by an emergency.

For up-to-date road condition reports, call 511 or log on to 511 travel and traffic information website at www.511.ky.gov.  The road description terminology used by the cabinet is the same as what motorists will hear and see when they call 511 or visit the website. 

The Cabinet also urges drivers to drive more carefully when faced with winter road conditions. Visit http://highwaysafety.ky.gov/ or http://drivesmart.ky.gov/ for tips to prevent accidents on icy roads.

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