Motorists should be alert for slow-moving trucks on the road
PADUCAH, KY (Dec. 19, 2022) – In anticipation of an accumulating snowfall arriving sometime Thursday, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) crews in District 1 plan to ramp up pre-treating activities along area highways on Tuesday.
While the forecast is expected to evolve, the National Weather Service indicates the possibility of one to three inches of snow with extreme cold and high winds that are expected to create near-blizzard conditions and lows near zero.
Extreme cold temperatures arriving with the system are likely to create additional hazards. Wind-chill numbers could be as low as -20 degrees.
Most highway crews in Kentucky’s 12 westernmost counties are already producing brine to top off brine storage tanks, and prepping spray equipment.
KYTC District 1 crews plan to start pre-treating efforts on “B” and “C” Snow Priority Routes. Crews will hold off on treating “A” Snow Priority Routes such as interstates, parkways, and other 4-land highways until about Wednesday.
Motorists should be alert for slow-moving trucks on the move spraying brine on road surfaces starting Tuesday. It normally takes about two full days to cover all 2,838 miles of highway in District 1.
The KYTC District 1 supertanker is expected to spray much of Interstate 24 on Tuesday afternoon and into Wednesday. The supertanker can spray at Interstate speeds helping to speed the application process and avoid creating a traffic slowdown.
Brine is generated by combining water and salt. The brine is sprayed on pavement where it then dries to leave a fine powder coating of salt that sticks on the roadway driving surface where it is activated by falling snow in the early hours of a winter weather event. Pre-treating initially improves driving conditions as snow starts to fall, then makes it easier for crews to plow snow by keeping frozen precipitation from bonding to the pavement.
Motorists are reminded to adjust their driving speed to meet localized weather conditions as the snow develops. Motorists are advised to monitor the developing forecast via area news media outlets or go to the National Weather Service Paducah Office page at https://www.facebook.com/NWSPaducah.
Just as highway crews prep their equipment for snow and ice, motorists are asked to ensure tires have sufficient tread for winter travel, and their vehicle contains an emergency kit in case they are stranded due to a crash. Many retail tire dealers will provide a free tire tread check.
The KYTC District 1 Snow & Ice Team will continue to monitor changing conditions to ensure highway crews are prepared to respond as the snow arrives on Thursday.
Tips on putting together a winter travel kit for your vehicle can be found at www.ready.gov/Winter. Snow Priority Route maps and additional tips to prepare for winter driving are available at SnowKY.KY.Gov.
To get traffic advisories and alerts via email go to https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/KYTC/signup/13651 and click on counties in Kentucky you regularly drive through or on any of the specialty corridors you travel. Be sure to check your SPAM filtering to assure Gov Delivery is on your approved list.
Timely traffic advisories for the 12 counties of KYTC Highway District 1 are available by going to www.facebook.com/kytcdistrict1. You do not have to be a Facebook member to access this page.
Navigate traffic at goky.ky.gov, at waze.com, or with the WAZE App.